D.C. Drag King Fights Back Against Queer Erasure In Art

The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) in D.C. is participating in queer erasure by leaving essential and meaningful context out of an installation by the late artist Felix González-Torres. The art installation “Untitled” (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) by Cuban artist Felix González-Torres is at first glance a large pile of brightly colored candies sitting in a corner. Without context, this may seem to a viewer like just a unique portrait. But the description of the portrait reads, “This is González-Torres’s unconventional portrait of his partner, Ross Laycock, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991. The candies’ combined weight, 175 pounds, corresponds to Laycock’s ideal weight before he got ill. Visitors are invited to sample the sweets. As the candy disappears, the pile shrinks in mass and weight, reenacting the debilitating effects of Laycock’s illness.” The arrangement of the candies in a pile that diminishes over time is intentional as well as the description beside it explaining the way González-Torres intended. The NPG displayed their own version of González-Torres’ portrait. Candies in their version are displayed in a line along the base of a wall, not in a pile, and the card at their installation reads “Candies in variously colored wrappers, endless supply(.) Overall dimensions may vary with installation. ideal weight: 175lb.”

This version of González-Torres’ installation completely omits the fact that he was an openly queer man, that the portrait is of his late partner, and that his partner died from HIV/AIDS related illness. The formation of the candies is also laid out in a line that does not display the diminishing of the pile as effectively, and literally makes the piece “straight.” OFM has been approached by queer D.C. activist and drag king, Lord Henry (they/them), who sought to set this straight with a “day of peaceful action.” They believe that small and safe acts of resistance can be just as valuable as large ones. On February 8, Lord Henry and their group of local drag performers and allies went to the National Portrait Museum in D.C. and handed out fliers containing information about the true meaning of the installation and then rearranged the candies into a pile more befitting of González-Torres’ original intent. Lord Henry told us, “Yesterday’s direct action at the National Portrait Gallery was a beautiful example of how #smallsimplesafe actions matter and how just a small group of friends can make a difference against the tidal wave of insanity we’re facing.”

The NPG’s Instagram post about the installation does include the fact that the piece is about the queer artist’s partner who died from HIV/AIDS related illness, but the installation itself still does not. There are many comments on the post addressing the labeling concerns, calls to fix the erasure, and add the context back into the installation. Moving candies in a museum may not be a large or particularly strenuous action, but it represents much more. This was pushing back against queer erasure specifically in art. This was making their voice heard and spreading information to others about the truth behind a meaningful piece of art. Lord Henry told OFM, “We want to inspire others and show that peaceful direct action is possible. This may not feel like much,(…) but it’s a small way that we can make a difference and spread some valuable information about queer history, counteracting the NPG’s erasure.”

Everyone’s activism looks different. Only one person threw the first brick at Stonewall. If your activism is creating art, keep creating. If yours is disruption, keep disrupting. No matter the size of your action, it still matters. Remember that our art, our stories are powerful. If they weren’t, no one would try to silence or erase us.