Queer artworks are works that challenge the normative understandings of gender and sexuality, often through the creation of alternative worlds or experiences. They can include paintings, sculptures, performances, photography, literature, film, music, dance, fashion, architecture, food, and more. Many queer artists have used their work to interrogate the politics of remembrance and challenge collective amnesia about oppression. This essay will explore how some queer artworks have done so and what impact this has had on society.
One way that queer artworks interrogate the politics of remembrance is by depicting histories that have been forgotten or ignored.
Artist Derek Jarman created the film "Blue" which tells the story of a man dying from AIDS during the height of the epidemic in the 1980s. The film features a narrator who reads excerpts from the diary of an unnamed gay man who describes his struggle with illness and isolation. By making visible the lives of people who were silenced during the crisis, the film challenges collective amnesia about the history of HIV/AIDS and its disproportionate impact on LGBTQ+ communities.
Another way that queer artworks challenge collective amnesia is by using symbolism to make connections between past and present struggles. Artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres's installation "Untitled (Perfect Lovers)" consists of two piles of red candies, each representing one half of a couple. When taken together, they form a whole but when separated, they are incomplete. The piece alludes to the loss of loved ones due to AIDS and other social issues faced by the queer community. It also suggests the importance of unity in combating prejudice.
In addition to historical erasure and symbolic representation, queer artworks can use surrealism to explore alternative realities. Artist David Hockney's painting "Peter Getting Out of Nick's Pool" depicts two men embracing after swimming naked in a pool. The work is a celebration of male intimacy and sexuality, challenging society's norms around gender and desire. It also invites viewers to imagine new possibilities for relationships beyond heteronormative expectations.
Queer artworks also often interrogate power dynamics, such as the ways in which marginalized groups have been oppressed through political and cultural systems.
Artist Ana Mendieta created performance pieces where she explored her own experiences with colonialism and racism. In "Silueta Series," she carved silhouettes into the earth or cast them from her body, confronting the violence inflicted on indigenous people and women of color. Her work highlights how collective amnesia about these histories perpetuates structural inequalities today.
Some queer artists challenge collective amnesia by creating spaces for reflection and healing.
Artist Zanele Muholi's photograph series "Faces and Phases" captures portraits of black lesbian couples in South Africa. By documenting their daily lives, Muholi gives visibility to communities that are often overlooked or demonized. She also creates a space for self-love and empowerment among LGBTQ+ individuals who may not feel safe expressing themselves publicly.
Queer artworks can play an important role in interrogating the politics of remembrance and challenging collective amnesia about oppression. They create alternative worlds, explore past struggles, question power dynamics, and offer spaces for reflection and healing. These works help us remember those who were forgotten or ignored, and invite us to imagine new possibilities for our future.
How do queer artworks interrogate the politics of remembrance and challenge collective amnesia about oppression?
Queer artworks interrogate the politics of remembrance by presenting alternative narratives that challenge dominant histories. They often reframe historical events through a lens that highlights marginalized perspectives, making visible the experiences of those who have been erased or silenced.