WOJNAROWICZ, David

1988

acrylic and collage on canvas

42 x 42"

David Wojnarowicz was an artist diagnosed with AIDS in 1988,and used his illness to address different socio-economic themes through his art making practices of photography, painting, film and recorded song. Revealing his sexual identity as a gay man, and working as an AIDS activist, his diagnosis left him afraid people would look at him differently, not accept his sexual orientation or think he did not have enough money to eat and or try to deny him his healthcare. Wojnarowicz was disturbed by this and took a sharp political turn to promote the dangers of censorship and isolation. He painted Hunger as a kind of action installation which also incorporated collage; in many of his works he also employed strong colors such as red as a reactionary tool to capture his anger and capture an audience. It was a time of crisis for Wojnarowicz and he chose to finish installations at the end of this life passing away in 1992.

1988

WOJNAROWICZ, David

American, New Jersey 1964 - 1992

Gift of Robert H. Halff

1990.9