Sex, Love, and Power at the BMA
Saturday, November 15th, 2008
Alice in Wonderland
1996
Nicole Eisenman
The BMA held a panel discussion centered around the work of renowned artist Franz West. That was immediately followed by a reception which was definitely needed. The panel consisted of Hilary Harkness, Tom Otterness, and Nicole Eisenman. The artists discussed how their practice and subject matter are sensitive to engaging the viewer with notions of sex in relation to other concerns as mediative acts for the message. Harkness delivered a dry, slightly awkward presentation of her small, labor intensive “feminist” works. While in the panel discussion she recounts her love life maybe to cite it as a source of inspiration. Tom Otterness was tapping into some good issues in his artist talk: like the relationship of humor and sex/ the relationship of the public and sex. The panel ended with one audience member questioning Tom about a piece he had done in which he kills a dog. He handled the question well stating his wrong doing. Nicole Eisenman’s talk went well, offering a survey of the many investigations she’s done as an artist, and in her turn at the mic she advocates the visibility of sex. On some level the panel discussion seemed too casual, and it may have hurt the ability of anyone on stage to facilitate a healthy discourse. With topics as broad as sex, love, and power greater specificity and direction are needed. P.S. I loved Nicole’s talk, because the honesty and attentiveness to the discussion came across through some slight level of frustration.