What is the context?
Felix Gonzalez-Torres was a Cuban artist based in the United States of America. Gonzalez-Torres's work is world famous, he is most commonly known for his minimalist art installations such as the one pictured above. The above art piece, once displayed in the Art Institute of Chicago, is Gonzalez-Torres's most famous piece. Gonzalez-Torres is most notable for his use of everyday objects in his installations, such as candy, string lights, and candles.
The above piece is a representation of Gonzalez-Torres's partner, Ross Laycock. Laycock, as well as Gonzalez-Torres, suffered from HIV/AIDS. In 1991, following the death of Laycock, Gonzalez-Torres created this piece. Made up of thousands of pieces of individually wrapped flavored candies, the piece is representative of Laycock in his final years of life. The weight of the sculpture is approximately 175 pounds, the same as the weight of Laycock in his peak health. The piece is interactive as viewers are invited to take a piece of candy. This is representative of Laycock's diminishing weight and eventual death. Furthermore, as the piece is replenished, this is significant of Laycock's life beyond his death.
The piece was revolutionary in a myriad of ways. In 1991, the press was constantly covering the foreign and domestic HIV/AIDS epidemics. The disease was still associated primarily with the gay community. However, this piece gave the world a new perspective on the disease. Gonzalez-Torres's emotional tribute to his partner showed the world the people behind the HIV/AIDS television statistics. Overall, the touching art installation is world renowned and loved for its emotional impact upon the viewer.
What is the artist communicating? How?
I initially had the privilege of seeing this piece in the Art Institute of Chicago. I was shocked that a pile of candy was worthy of being featured in the Art Institute. However, after hearing an explanation on the piece by a worker standing nearby, I understood what Gonzalez-Torres was attempting to communicate through thousands of pieces of colorful candies. The purpose of the piece is to capture the spirit of the artist's partner who passed away in 1991 due to AIDS related complications. The colorful candies are meant to represent the weight, or very being of Laycock in his final years of life. As the mass of colorful candies disappears so does Laycock. However, he, in a way, lives forever as the mass of candies is replenished he comes back to life with it. Gonzalez-Torres's decision to use candy is symbolic of the fun loving life Laycock led. However, as the illness took root, he lost himself, just as the sculpture loses pieces of itself. Gonzalez-Torres wants the people viewing the piece to carry pieces of Laycock with them as they take a piece of candy from the pile. The artist virtually insures that someone viewing the piece will feel its emotions after learning what it stands for. Furthermore, by using a mundane medium, such as candy, to construct his piece, Gonzalez-Torres shows that Laycock's life was made up of small memories, conversations, etc. that eventually made up all 175 pounds of him.
Two themes that are being Gonzalez-Torres is communicating through this piece are the transformative nature of illness and spirit beyond a physical body. The first theme of the transformative nature of illness is quite obvious in the work as Laycock's loss of body weight is paralleled in the loss of candy in the sculpture. The second theme, although less apparent, is extremely telling of the artist's state of mind. As he watched Laycock lose his body to an illness, he was reminded of his spirit and how that will live on forever even after Laycock's death in their memories which is paralleled as the candies in the sculpture are replenished.
Why do you find it beautiful?
I did not understand this piece when I first saw it almost two years ago. I was confused by its simplicity, however its story has stuck with me since the first time I saw it. I initially thought that the piece was simply about the artist's friend but while researching it today I found out that it was about the artist's partner. This added a new dimension to the piece as I could actually feel Gonzalez-Torres's emotions through this pile of candy. I wonder about the pain that both Gonzalez-Torres and Laycock felt as Laycock was dying. Gonzalez-Torres obviously felt the less obvious pain of watching the love of his life waste away due to an incurable disease whereas Laycock literally felt himself become a skeleton of the man he once was. The emotion conveyed through this piece is remarkable.
I find this piece beautiful because I can imagine Gonzalez-Torres's pain while creating this final tribute to his partner. I find this piece beautiful because I am angry that no cure exists for HIV/AIDS. I find this piece beautiful because it reminds me of the 39 million people that have died as a result of HIV/AIDS.
This piece made me think differently about a disease I constantly hear about and for that reason I find it to be one of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever seen.
