Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Felix Gonzalez-Torres

I was fascinated by the work of Felix Gonzolez-Torres that we were shown in class. I recently stumbled upon a blog (http://somethingburning.com/ross-martin/when-we-publish-broadcast-forward-share/) which gave more information about the piece. It said: 
Here's a "portrait" of Gonzalez-Torres' partner...  After Ross Laycock's death in 1991, Gonzalez-Torres built this installation.  The mound of candy weighs exactly 175lbs — what Laycock normally weighed when healthy.  Visitors are encouraged to take a piece of candy and eat it.  As they do, the installation begins to shrink, as Laycock's body did from his battle with AIDS.  According to the Art Institute of Chicago, "Gonzalez-Torres stipulated that the pile should be continuously replenished, thus metaphorically granting perpetual life."

Gonzolez has this plaque posted by the piece which says:


I thought it was super interesting that Gonzolez gave free reign to the museum curator to display the candy in any way. His only stipulations were that every morning it needed to weight 175 pounds, and that it was free for the public to take away. 

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