The Tang Museum will join with museums and arts organizations across the country to screen the new video work Untitled by Jim Hodges, Carlos Marques da Cruz and Encke King for World AIDS Day / Day With(out) Art on December 1st.
Untitled is a non-linear montage of archival and pop footage recalling the passionate activism sparked by the early years of the AIDS crisis. Un-spooling at multiple levels, the narrative flies between scenes of tragic brutality to kitschy humor, arch clips of laughter and ironic surprises while shredding traditional chronology. Many references - the title, short excerpts from Golden Girls and Dynasty, popular songs, and contemporary issues - nod towards Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ oeuvre, but the film is not an attempt to portray the artist; rather, it places the viewer “in his room.” In this way, the framing of the artist becomes a means to project any number of people, endlessly.
The video is distributed by Visual AIDS, an organization that utilizes art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy. Day With(out)Art was founded by Visual AIDS in 1989, as a day of action and remembrance.
For further information see www.creativetime.org.