Does beholding an image of desire or sexual violence implicate us in that image’s power dynamics? When a figure looks directly at us—as if to acknowledge our presence—how do we look back? In this experimental museum installation, two curators explore the ethics of presenting images of power and sexuality by juxtaposing images of sexual violence with positive examples of consensual desire by artists utilizing Black, feminist, and queer frameworks. Considered together, we hope these works help us develop trauma-informed ethics for interpreting imagery in art museums and our broader visual culture.
January 27 - August 22, 2023
About the image:
Mickalene Thomas, (American, b. 1971), You’re Gonna Give Me the Love I Need, 2010. Ruth C. Roush Contemporary Art Fund.