“Untitled” (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)

A recent post on MetaFilter leapt out at me, reminding me of a very moving experience I had at the National Portrait Gallery in DC, over a decade ago.

The piece was entitled “Untitled” (Portrait of Ross in L.A.), and was part of an exhibit called “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture.”

My first thought on seeing the pile of candy was dismissive. But then I read the placard, and that completely changed my attitude and point of view in a matter of moments. The placard read:

I was afraid at first to take a piece of the candy, thinking someone would see me and yell at me. But I was participating in the way the artist intended, and the whole experience was just incredibly moving.

At the time, I just saw the pieces and didn’t pay much attention to the artist’s name. Many, many years later, when I was exploring museums in Chicago… I came across Gonzalez-Torres again, unexpectedly. And realized/remembered it was his work at the National Portrait Gallery that had moved me so much.

I’m not a big art person. But I’ve found myself enjoying modern art expressly for these moments that truly resonate with me. There is a lot of modern art (a majority?) that I don’t connect with at all, that strikes me as indulgent or too self-focused. But the moments that touch me are what bring me back, that make me turn the next corner to see the next piece.

I’d dare say that Gonzalez-Torres’ Portrait of Ross in LA is a foundational moment/memory for me. And something that spurs me to want to look at more modern art. And it was a lovely reminder to find his name on MetaFilter randomly. To once again chance across his work, by accident.

Related:
A Vacation Day in Chicago: Visiting the MCA, Art Institute, and Wandering Downtown
First Day in DC