Museum Trip David Wojnarowicz

 

In this screen print called ”Untitled (ACT-UP)” Wojnarowicz portrays the AIDS crisis and (people who are suffering from AIDS) how they are being ignored by the government as the number of people suffering continues to increase. I believe that art can change the publics opinion especially when it is dramatic like this screen print. When Wojnarowicz shows the pattern or repetition of the percentage numbers going across the screen print. I believe it dramatizes the issue at hand, it bring attention to North America. For example the target inside North America is very dramatic and portrays the need for immediate attention. Wojnarowicz intention was to benefit the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power. He attended their demonstrations, meetings, and rally's to keep the conversation about AIDS in politics. The point was to let Americans know that the AIDS crisis will not be ignored. Wojnarowicz artwork on AIDS or ACT-UP depicts that the AIDS crisis is still very relevant today, especially when medical professionals talk about or try to enforce the use of protection, because terrible illnesses can come about if we're not careful. Even when it comes to drugs or the use of needles we still have to be very cautious to try and prevent these illnesses from spreading. HIV and AIDS still affect minorities today so I believe that his artwork is very relevant.

 

In his painting ”History Keeps Me Awake at Night” made with spray paint, acrylic and collaged paper, Wojnarowicz presents different themes and symbols in this work. There's an green alien, a statue of a man riding on a horse, a red wheel, a man sleeping, another man pointing a gun forward with a cut out of the human body behind him on his right side. There's another man behind him on his left, he has no face, and it looks like he is playing with chemicals or creating dangerous chemicals. The symbols shown in this painting are still relevant in today's society because it depicts the themes of drugs, illnesses, gun violence, poverty, and politics. I think it illustrates that to the public they're many things that are going on at once, and we shouldn't focus on just one issue. His intention was to portray an American dystopia by showing crime, poverty, and the fear of AIDS.