CREATION = LIFE

By Julie Intartaglia

W. Benjamin Incerti, Untitled, 1991, silver gelatin print, 42" x 30"

Using the collection of images from the Frank Moore Archive Project at Visual AIDS, I wanted to examine the relation between art and militancy against AIDS. I am particularly interested in the power of art to highlight a cause and to increase public awareness. In the case of the AIDS crisis, art is often used to show the reality of a situation for those living with HIV/AIDS. It’s also use to express how some people living with HIV/AIDS feel. Art activists help bring visibility to those living with HIV/AIDS in our society, and to fight the indifference, ignorance and  isolation they face.

In reseaching the Archive Project, I saw many images from protest and direct actions of ACT UP - an activist organization which continues to fight against AIDS. I begin with some of these photographs, to represent the history of AIDS activist, however I also wanted to include other types of works like graphic arts, collage, fabrication and installations, to show that the artistic response to end the AIDS crisis has taken multiple forms.

Much of the activist art works against AIDS has been created for a public space or from actions in a public arena. This is the case for the  documentary photographs of the actions of ACT UP taken by W. Benjamin Incerti and Brent Nicholson Earle.  The graphic works of Keith Haring and Carlos Gutierrez-Solana are also intended to be seen by as many people as possible, with the objective of passing on prevention messages about HIV/AIDS and to encourage people to reflect on AIDS. The work of Valerie Caris, Max Greenberg and Joe DeHoyos take a more intimate approach, exhibiting in art galleries, their work is concerned with more personal issues, such as medication, infections and the medical analysis that rhythms the every-day life of people who live with HIV/AIDS. 

AIDS is a disease which concerns both the private and public life, because the fight is both political and intimate - this selection of works attempt to shed light on these issues.


Biography

Julie Intartaglia is a student in Sociology of Cultural Policies at Paris-Diderot University and a member of ACT UP Paris - an activist organization fighting against AIDS. Last year, she has written a thesis for her Master's degree about the activist art against the AIDS crisis at the end of the 80's and at the beginning of the 90's in New York City.

W. Benjamin Incerti, Untitled, 1991, silver gelatin print, 42" x 30"

W. Benjamin Incerti, Untitled, 1990, silver gelatin print, 42" x 30"

   

W. Benjamin Incerti, Untitled, 1990, silver gelatin print, 30" x 42"

W. Benjamin Incerti, Untitled, 1991, silver gelatin print, 42" x 30"

Brent Nicholson Earle, ACT UP 10th Anniversary Action, 3/24/97, III, 1997, chrome, 11" x 17"

Brent Nicholson Earle, Fair And Equitable?, 1996, color photograph, n.a.

 

Brent Nicholson Earle, Marching For Their Children, 1996, color photograph, n.a.

Keith Haring, Mural in Barrio de Chino, 1989, n.a., n.a.

Keith Haring, Poster for ACT UP, 1989, n.a. n.a.

 Carlos Gutierrez-Solana, More Than, 1994, digital collage, 8" x 10"

  

Joe DeHoyos, Celebrity AIDS: David Bowie, 1997, collage, 10.7" x 7.75"

Joe DeHoyos, Celebrity AIDS: Sinead O'Connor, 1997, collage, 10.7" x 7.75"

Max Greenberg, Good n' Plenty, 2002, silver gelatin print, n.a.

Max Greenberg, AIDS 101 - An Intensive, 1997, photography, 10" x 8"

 

 Max Greenberg, Medecine Man, 1997, silver gelatin print, 8" x 10"

Valerie Caris, Vestment, 1993, fabric & mixed media, n.a.

 

Valerie Caris, Vestment (back view), 1993, fabric & mixed media, n.a.

Valerie Caris Vestment (front detail), 1993, n.a., n.a.

Postcards From The Edge

Le projet d'actualité à Visual AIDS c'est Postcards From The Edge. Il s'agit de la vente d'oeuvres d'art au format carte postale, au profit de l'association. Les cartes sont réalisées principalement par des artistes mais tout un chacun peut apporter sa contribution et en produire une. Les cartes seront ensuite exposées à la galerie CRG Gallery (qui offre gracieusement ses locaux pour l'occasion) durant le week end du 8 et 9 janvier. Le principe de la vente est celui du premier arrivé, premier servi. Pour permettre aux gens intéressés de repérer la ou les cartes qu'ils souhaitent acheter, une soirée est organisée le vendredi 7 janvier. Le nom des artistes n'est mentionné à l'acheteur qu'après l'achat de la carte pour éviter que l'intérêt du public soit focalisé sur les noms des artistes plutôt que sur les oeuvres. L'intégralité de la somme récoltée est reversée à Visual AIDS, cette vente représente la principale source de financement annuelle de l'association.

Plus d'infos sur: http://www.thebody.com/visualaids/current/postcards2011.html

The upcoming project at Visual AIDS is Postcards From The Edge. This is the sell of works of art at post cards format at the benefit of Visual AIDS. The cards are mainly created by artists but anybody can contribute to the project and create a postcard. Then, the cards are exhibit at CRG Gallery (which offers for free these premises for the occasion) during the week end of January, 8th-9th. All works are sold on a first-come, first-served. To allow at interested people to identify one or several cards they want to buy, a preview party is organized on friday, 7th. The name of the artists is mentionned at the buyer after the buy of the card, to avoid that the attention of the audience be focus on artists names instead of works of art. The entire amount collected is donated at Visual AIDS, this selling represent the main source of annual funding for the organization.

More informations at: http://www.thebody.com/visualaids/current/postcards2011.html

Visual AIDS

Visual AIDS est une association créée en 1988 qui a pour mission principale de promouvoir les artistes qui vivent avec le VIH et, plus généralement, l'art contre le sida. Elle compte deux salariés, Nelson et Amy, et plusieurs volontaires qui viennent apporter leur aide durant les périodes chargées.

L'association a différentes activités. Elle héberge depuis 1994 un projet d'archives, "The Archive Project" qui recense sous forme de diapositives les oeuvres de centaines d'artistes vivant avec le VIH ayant choisi de faire partie de ce projet. Visual AIDS  met en oeuvre plusieurs projets par an, en relation avec les artistes membres de l'association. Elle héberge également plusieurs web galeries pour diffuser les oeuvres issues de son projet d'archive.

Site web: http://www.visualaids.org/

Visual AIDS is a non-profit organisation created in 1988 which have for principal mission to promote the artists who live with AIDS and, more generaly, the art against AIDS. There is two employees, Nelson and Amy, and several volonteers come for bring some help during the busy periods.

The organization runs on different activities. It hosts an archive project since 1994, called "The Archive Project". It keeps as slides the works of art of several hundreds of artists living with HIV, who have made the choice to take part of the project. Visual AIDS implements several projects during the year in relation with the artists who are members of the organization. It also hosts several web galleries to broadcast works of art from The Archive Project.

Web site: http://www.visualaids.org/