It makes me weep to feel the history of your flesh beneath my hands in a time of so much loss.
When I put My Hands on Your Body by David Wojnarowicz
“When I put my hands on your body on your flesh I feel the history of that body. Not just the beginning of its forming in that distant lake but all the way beyond its ending. I feel the warmth and texture simultaneously I see the flesh unwrap from the layers of fat and disappear. I see the fat disappear from the muscle. I see the muscle disappearing from around the organs and detaching itself from the bones. I see the organs gradually fade into transparency leaving a gloaming skeleton gleaming like ivory that slowly revolves until it becomes dust. I am consumed in the sense of your weight the way your flesh occupies momentary space the fullness of it beneath my palms. I am amazed at how perfectly your body fits to the curves of my hands. If I could attach our blood vessels so we could become each other I would. If I could attach our blood vessels in order to anchor you to the earth to this present time to me I would. If I could open up your body and slip inside your skin and look out your eyes and forever have my lips fused with yours I would. It makes me weep to feel the history of your flesh beneath my hands in a time of so much loss. It makes me weep to feel the movement of your flesh beneath my palms as you twist and turn over to one side to create a series of gestures to reach up around my neck to draw me nearer. All these memories will be lost in time like tears in the rain.” - David Wojnarowicz, When I Put My Hands on Your Body, 1990.
When I Put My Hands on Your Body by David Wojnarowicz
Read below, then read above. This work was done as David’s partner was dying of AIDS. I encourage you to really immerse yourself in the text of David’s work (after reading the brief history below).
In honor of the fact that tomorrow is Transgender Day of Remembrance, I would like to post something by an artist named David Wojnarowicz. David was a gay man who lived in NYC in the 1980s with his partner, and both of them ended up dying at a young age of AIDS. During the 1970s and 1980s, the LGBT community struggled very much to get any kind of recognition from the government, and even the public. These brave souls worked hard to achieve a well-deserved seat within society, and this was hard to do, especially since the government refused to give the community civil rights. While the AIDS epidemic was on the rise, conservative leaders simply ignored the fact that an astounding amount of people were dying of the disease, and didn’t provide any funding for AIDS research and treatment. More and more people died, and more and more loved ones were lost. This still happens today, but through the strength of the fight that the GLBT activists have put forth in the past and in the present, the community has made many strides in achieving rights and recognition.
No matter what your beliefs, it is important that you and others recognize the intense struggle that a large amount of this population has gone through, including societal backlash, violence, and also ignorance from leaders who could have saved many lives, but refused to because of homophobia.
David Wojnarowicz was seen as an artist who was angry about this struggle. He wanted the viewers of his works to see this anger and feel the same. He wanted the viewers to feel so much that they did something about it. He wanted anger and emotion to turn into action. The use of his childhood picture with these words around them were such an attempt. It is my personal belief that he did this well, and I would like to honor his life and works by discussing this and sharing it with you. I would also like to honor those who have died from hate crimes, simply because they are transgendered (or that they are who they are). Out of my heart (and the hearts of others, I’m sure), I ask you to please take at least one second out of your day, today and tomorrow, to remember those we have lost (citizens of this country) as a result of years of struggle, hatred and homophobia.
Thanks for reading. The fight is not over. Take action today. (and share this with others!)
One Day this Kid by David Wojnarowicz
In honor of the fact that tomorrow is Transgender Day of Remembrance, I would like to post something by an artist named David Wojnarowicz. David was a gay man who lived in NYC in the 1980s with his partner, and both of them ended up dying at a young age of AIDS. During the 1970s and 1980s, the LGBT community struggled very much to get any kind of recognition from the government, and even the public. These brave souls worked hard to achieve a well-deserved seat within society, and this was hard to do, especially since the government refused to give the community civil rights. While the AIDS epidemic was on the rise, conservative leaders simply ignored the fact that an astounding amount of people were dying of the disease, and didn’t provide any funding for AIDS research and treatment. More and more people died, and more and more loved ones were lost. This still happens today, but through the strength of the fight that the GLBT activists have put forth in the past and in the present, the community has made many strides in achieving rights and recognition.
No matter what your beliefs, it is important that you and others recognize the intense struggle that a large amount of this population has gone through, including societal backlash, violence, and also ignorance from leaders who could have saved many lives, but refused to because of homophobia.
David Wojnarowicz was seen as an artist who was angry about this struggle. He wanted the viewers of his works to see this anger and feel the same. He wanted the viewers to feel so much that they did something about it. He wanted anger and emotion to turn into ACTION. The use of his childhood picture with these words around them were such an attempt. It is my personal belief that he did this well, and I would like to honor his life and works by discussing this and sharing it with you. I would also like to honor those who have died from hate crimes, simply because they are transgendered. Out of my heart (and the hearts of others, I’m sure), I ask you to please take at least one second out of your day, today and tomorrow, to remember those we have lost (citizens of this country) as a result of years of struggle, hatred and homophobia.
Thanks for reading. The fight is not over. Take action today. (and share this with others!)
Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountain by Huang Gongwang, Yuan Dynasty, ink on handscroll.
Interesting idea - do the trees and figures scattered about the mountains amount to any kind of musical notes that could be played? It would be pretty cool to find out…
Listen to me on the RADIO. - ON AIR!
Current research: Andy Warhol and Music.
Exploring:
the history of the band the Velvet Underground (Lou Reed and John Cale)
their style in relation to popular rock & roll, jazz, rhythm & blues and the avant-garde
their approach of ‘taboo’ subject-matter in songs
sexual identity and gender discourse - the inclusion of androgynous drummer “Mo”/Maureen Tucker and the introduction of former supermodel, Nico
the sensory experience in which their music attempted to obtain - drone, continuous music and musical “happenings”
with all of these components, I will be drawing parallels between the band’s personal narrative and that of Andy Warhol and his various ‘B’ subjects (also, of course, his art).
It’s a fun topic, so I’m not too sad about writing it. :)
Orchid, Zheng Sixiao, handscroll, ink on paper, 1306
Powerful statement against the political control of the Mongols, symbolizes a disappearance of pure Chinese roots (notice the lack of roots). The orchid is tiny, yet elegant.
Guanyin, Crane and Gibbon, Mu Qi
Captures the essence of the subjects, no detailed, contextual landscape in order to let the viewer fill it in. Guanyin is the Bodhisattva of compassion (middle panel); contemplates landscape. Gibbons represent Confucian family.
