“Mien”
Online exhibition benefit through June 30 at TRNK
What the organizers say: “Rather than presenting queerness as a cultural homology or indulging the exotification of black and brown bodies, the photographs by the selected artists take authorship over individual lived experiences while also acknowledging contributions to a representative body politic. The seven participating artists selected include Dorian Ulises López Macías, Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Guanyu Xu, Naima Green, Nelson Morales, Simone Thompson, and Texas Isaiah.”
What the curator says: “I think every queer and person of color can relate to the tension between community and self explored by this group exhibition,” says the show’s curator Tariq Dixin. “The paradoxical burden, yet privilege of always representing something larger than oneself. The fury over society’s attempt to erase individual experiences, but the fulfillment earned by inspiring others who see themselves in you. Each of these artists interrogates this understanding in their own unique way. The artworks are strong assertions of the artists’ undeniable individuality, but they all join together in celebration of a shared queer identity.”
Why it’s worth a look: Timed to coincide with Pride month, the presentation doubles as a fundraiser for the Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest agency assisting LGBTQ+ homeless youth. The New York City-based center provides meals, mental and physical health services, and housing programs for at-risk youth.
The show is organized by Tariq Dixon, the co-founder of TRNK, a home-furnishings studio, who identifies as both queer and a BIPOC. As points out, the images of black and brown people in lush landscapes, in repose, and in the midst of tender exchanges offer a break from footage of violence and police brutality that have been flooding the internet. Dixon said, “What these artists offer in this moment is nourishment of spirit and soul, and a reminder to celebrate our own power and our own strength. We need that strength in order to keep fighting.”
Each work is available as a limited-edition 20-inch x 30-inch poster ($75 unframed/$250 framed). All proceeds go to the Ali Forney Center.
What it looks like:
Dorian Ulises López Macías, . Courtesy of the artist.
Dorian Ulises López, . Courtesy of the artist.
Nelson Morales, . Courtesy of the artist.
Texas Isaiah, (2018). Courtesy of the artist.
Nelson Morales, . Courtesy of the artist.
Simone Thompson, . Courtesy of the artist.
Guanyu Xu, . Courtesy of the artist.
Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Courtesy of the artist.
Source: Exhibition - news.artnet.com
