Untitled (Billboard)

Untitled (Billboard) was created in 1991. It consisted of a billboard with a pictore of an empty bed shown in twenty-four locations throughout New York City. The only materials used being the billboard and a monochrome photograph of the empty bed.

This, like his other work, was done in relation to AIDS and the growing epidemic. More specifically, though, it was created in mourning of the loss of his partner Ross. The empty bed signifies the emptiness felt without him as well as the place that caused the reason he died.

This billboard reminds me of the billboards that were taken apart by an anonymous group of artists, cut into tiny pieces, and put back together as something else to make a statement. I believe that both works make a bold statement, and require viewers to look because it is something so big starring them in the face as they walk or drive by.

Untitled (Placebo)

Untitled (Placebo) is an installation by Torres. It is a single sculpture made up of 1200 punds of silver wrapped hard candy. This is approx. 40,000 pieces of hard candy. It was arranged as a carpet along the floor of the gallery in 1991. Part of the work included visitors taking a piece of candy as they walked through. This helped with the disappearance of the sculpture.

The sculpture was used to reflect on the growing AIDS epidemic as well as the loss of his partner, Ross, from AIDS. Using something as common as candy allows the viewers to come up with their own meaning and explanation to the piece. This also lets the viewer reflect on loss and death in itself, and what that means to them.

This piece reminds me of some of the sculpture pieces that we have viewed in this class over the quarter, like the one with the live animals. This is because of the fact that it brings the viewers into the piece, even if for two different reasons, and allows them to think about the work in their own way and draw their own conclusions. I also think it makes me think of death, as well as the growing AIDS problem. It is a huge issue that most people do not consider as much as needed.

Untitled (Perfect Lovers)

Untitled (Perfect Lovers) is a piece involving two industrial sized clocks and a painted wall. The two clocks are hung side by side and set at the exact same time. The size of the piece is 14 x28 x 2 3/4". It was first shown in 1987.

The piece was put together just after his HIV positive partner, Ross, passed away. The clocks were shown set at the exact same time, but as the time passed, and the batteries wear out, the time slowly grows apart. This is to symbolize the same thing in life. For reasons not in our control, things grow apart, and life turns in unexpected ways. The clocks show this change. The beginning, however, shows harmony. To be that in sync with something is nearly impossible, yet always desired.

This piece really reminded me of daily relationships. I think of it as a story. They start out synchronized with one another, but as time goes on, they spread apart. This is just like friendships and other relationships. It is nothing that you can help, but it happens. I think it goes along with most things that we have discussed in class because of the fact that everything takes time. The time shown here could reference any of that and just reinforce the effort taken to get to the point that person is at.