“In those early amorphous years of life, when memory had only just begun, when life was full of Beginnings and no Ends, and everything was Forever,” cites the Indian author Arundhati Roy in her seminal novel The God of Small Things. While memories—things we remember, try to hold onto, or choose to forget—may be the … Continue reading
How are communities built? How do people sharing similar ideals and worldview unknowingly or purposefully rejoice? Or furthermore, why do we keep hearing the word community more than ever these days? Within the socio-political climate prevalent in the United States, and around the globe, this word no doubt echoes with solidarity and mutual reliance amongst … Continue reading
On view at the Abrons Arts Center through December 28th, On The Inside is a group exhibition produced by Tatiana Von Furstenberg, who spearheaded the project from the beginning as a curator and producer. Featuring more than four hundred artworks created by currently incarcerated LGBTQ artists, the exhibition blankets the Center’s gallery space, dominated by … Continue reading
“In putting together a show about complicating visibility, it is necessary to acknowledge that there have been times when queer visibility was life or death. It also must be acknowledged that without violence against queer people — whether physical or the violence of mandating identity — it wouldn’t be necessary to have a conversation around … Continue reading
“I am no different than the decaying rose as I wail,” cries Zeki Müren—arguably the most prominent singer that classical Turkish music has introduced, as well as the grandest of queer icons in his country—in Üzgünüm Leyla (I’m sorry, Leyla), a heart-wrenching anthem of longing and the namesake of Sinan Tuncay’s solo exhibition at United … Continue reading
“I have been perfectly reckless and foolish in return thinking…” fervidly cries Cathy–played by Julianne Moore–to her African American friend Raymond with whom she is on the brink of embarking on a forbidden relationship, upon witnessing her husband’s affair with a man in 1950s America in Far From Heaven. In his 2002 film, Todd Haynes revives those pastel-colored … Continue reading
“To take a photograph is to participate in another person’s mortality, vulnerability, mutability. Precisely by slicing out this moment and freezing it, all photographs testify to time’s relentless melt,” says Susan Sontag in On Photography, who was one of many Downtown fixtures captured by photographer Peter Hujar. Present in Lost Downtown, an exhibition commemorating the devastatingly impressive … Continue reading
“Merrymakers dance the night away,” reads the bottom of a magazine sheet that the 2015 Baxter St Workspace Resident Pacifico Silano ‘tore’ from a vast collection of gay porn ephemera for his intricately hung solo exhibition at Baxter St Camera Club’s Chinatown location. Tear Sheets fits like a glove as a title to Pacifico’s practice, which … Continue reading
“My films exist only to remind audiences the absolute certainty that they do not live in the best of all possible worlds,” once said Luis Buñuel, whose exuberant lens bore some of the most buoyant and triggering representations of 20th century. Anthony Iacono’s Crudités at Sunset, on view at PPOW Gallery through August 7th, imbues … Continue reading
Call it Stockholm Syndrome or millennial ennui, but idolizing and objectifying bad boy attitude, especially over media, is embedded in our culture. From the Rolling Stone cover of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to Jeremy Meeks, who became an overnight sensation as ‘hot mugshot guy,’ the act of being bad–even in such extreme cases–sparks some obscure fascination in … Continue reading