Kristie Perez
Activists, Interlopers, and Pranksters
Professor Cacoilo
2/2/17
Prior
to the development of AIDS awareness and support groups, a collective of
artists and activists known as Gran Fury had already established the significance
behind the cause through their art work. Using graphics, posters, and the
support of other artists they spread a message that would soon become a
movement. The Brooklyn museum has recently began a project named Agitprop, a
combination of agitation and propaganda, in order to give artists the
opportunity to convey their personal feelings on social and political issues
through their work. Gran Fury‘s work encouraging awareness for women who have
been diagnosed with AIDS has been included in this gallery full of master
pieces.
 |
| Gran Fury's Agitprop Work |
Since
the early 1980’s the collective group of artists have been making an impact on
society’s perception of the mortal disease. The empowering poster selected for
the gallery includes an image of beautiful women who appear to be participating
in a beauty contest. Their art piece also includes informative text
illustrating that 65 percent of women who have HIV are denied medical assistance
because it is not categorized as AIDS in the health care field (Fig.1 Gran Fury
Women Don’t Get AIDS, They Just Die From It
1991). Although this particular art piece was created in 1991, Gran Fury
has released various art pieces that have been included in health care offices,
bus stops, and other urban art shows. They are popularly known for their
agitating, confrontational, and captivating work. The group often uses neon
designs, intriguing text, and very forward messages. Defending the rights of
women, LGBTQ community, and needle transferred AIDS victims has made the group
both famous and infamous to many viewers.
 |
| Gran Fury's 1987 displayed piece |
Gran Fury emphasizes the crisis
that HIV and AIDS has become over the years, especially in the 1980’s when
their journey was first inspired. Many viewers will agree or disagree, but the
movement standing up for AIDS victims has since increased awareness, inspired
other works, and is nationally recognized as a cause that must be supported. When
one group of people chose to make a disruption in regular society, the reaction
is motivation for other artists to share their opinions. Artist
Leslie Kaliades,
who unfortunately passed away of AIDS in 1999, is one of the many artists who
were motivated to support women and others who have been victims of AIDS. Her
appealing and sentimental self-portrait “
THERE
IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT” was taken in 1989 but is featured in the Visual
AIDS gallery for the current month of February. The gallery celebrates women
who were diagnosed with AIDS, continue to fight it, and have unfortunately past
away from the disease. The image conveys a melancholic feeling as the artist
lays on the bathroom floor looking directly into the camera but her image
represents women empowerment, raising awareness, and breaking barriers of
social norms.
 |
| Leslie Kaliades AIDS Awareness |
Kaliades’ piece and
Gran Fury's
represent a nation of women who have been divided, ignored, and set aside by
society. Gran Fury uses propaganda, text, and graphic design to promote their
message to the public, in comparison to Kaliades whose work focuses on self-portraits
to portray the perspective of a woman facing the challenges of
AIDS. Their work
speaks to not just women, but everyone else who has been judged, criticized,
and rejected by the public due to their health status. Women were able to stand
up through these difficult times to support groups, websites, art work, and
even establish organizations where women can be checked and cared for such as
Planned Parenthood. Their art work educates, promotes personal growth, and
stands up for a country full of people affected by a chronic disease that has
no cure. Kaliades was a victim of AIDS and did not allow it to bring her down;
she used images of herself, scenery, and animals to depict her message. Her
images not only expressed her emotions of being ill but also helped her cope
with the disease, as many others who use art work as motivation to keep pushing
forward. Having the support of organizations, artists, and yourself are
essential to caring for this disease.
 |
| Leslie Kaliades' personal experience piece |
Gran Fury and Kaliades are two strong
examples of how propaganda can positively influence society. A collective of
artists can make an incredible difference to its viewers, just as a single
person facing the challenges of AIDS can do the same. Gran Fury’s piece
supported women with HIV who were not receiving proper treatment and Kaliades represented
a society of women who are victims of the disease. AIDS can lead to
discrimination, has resulted in people being fired, and health care has
neglected to treat these patients. This disease is more than just a virus; it
is a silent epidemic that society does not have the right exclude. Anyone can
contract this virus whether they are children, adults, women, or men, the virus
itself does not discriminate its host. Using videos, posters, photography, and
facts can educate people on what HIV actually is, who it affects, and how it
affects their bodies. Using art to inform society is one of the best techniques
to captivate the attention of those who do not wish to listen. Gran Fury and
Kaliades may have used different art techniques, portrayed a different message,
and conveyed different feelings but their work exhibits the power AIDS has to
destroy people and the importance of supporting the cause.
Works Cited
- ·
Gran Fury.“Women Don’t Get AIDS, They Just Die
From It.” Brooklyn Museum. Public art fund, New York and the museum of
Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 1991, https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/agitprop.
- Https://www.facebook.com/visualAIDS. "Leslie Kaliades." Visual AIDS. Visual AIDS, n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.
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