Label Text:
Excerpt from wall label “What Is Love: Selections from the Permanent Collection,” April 19 – June 3, 2007:
Duane Michals has been called a poet, philosopher and a photographer, all disciplines which can be located within this series, Christ in New York City. In his work Michals often combines photography and writing. About this technique he has said, “I was lucky because I never went to photography school, which was my saving grace. I didn’t know that you weren’t supposed to write on a photograph.” This series begins with the selling of Christ on television, his witnessing of devastating events that occur all too often in daily life, and ending with his death by a handgun. Tellingly, the final photograph’s inscription reads, “The second coming had occurred and no one noticed.” Michals activates his message through instances of hypocrisy, random violence, death, and hardship. He illuminates the contradictions between individuals who claim to promote the teachings of Christ, but forget to enact his messages of love, compassion, and acceptance. - Julie Thomson, (M.A. '07)
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=UM+1981.33.1-6 |
