/ / / /

What's Next Up at MoMA: Controversial Video Art, Of Course

Where: 11 W. 53rd St. [map], New York, NY, United States, 10019
January 18, 2011 at 8:31 AM | by | Comments (0)

That newfangled Museum of Modern Art is always getting people in a tizzy. First, it featured live naked people and now it's showing a banned exhibit.

A clip of artist David Wojnarowicz's 13-minute video, titled "A Fire in My Belly," was pulled from the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in November. Much to the chagrin of anti-censorship advocates, the Washington, D.C., museum took down the installation after Catholic League President Bill Donohue described it as anti-Christian "hate speech," Reuters reported. Politicians like House Speaker John Boehner also called for the video's removal.

The controversial portion in question is a series of scenes where ants crawl all over Christ on a crucifix. We're surprised the nekkid people didn't cause more of a ruckus.

The artist is now deceased, so he can't defend his work, but museum officials say Wojnarowicz is one of the most influential artists to come from New York in the '80s and that this work was made after the artist was diagnosed with HIV. It uses imagery from his trips to Mexico and is supposed to examine death, social inequality, faith and desire. It marks the museum's 13th work from the artist.

The piece is part of the museum's "Contemporary Art from the Collection" exhibit, which looks at the debates of economics, politics, gender and ethnicity that have surrounded artistic practices since the late 1960s. It will be on view through May 9. Admission is $20 for adults and free for 16 and under.

[Photo: The Back Table]

Comments (0)

Post a Comment

Return to » What's Next Up at MoMA: Controversial Video Art, Of Course

Join the conversation!

Not a member? .
Use of this Site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (effective 3/21/12) and Privacy Policy (effective 3/21/12). © Condé Nast. Your California Privacy Rights. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.
Ad Choices