David Wojnarowicz, Untitled (Hujar Dead), 1988-89

Narrator: To make this painting, Wojnarowicz took his photographs of Peter Hujar on his deathbed, and overlaid them with screen-printed text. The text calls out systemic homophobia, as well as government complicity in the AIDS epidemic.

Emily Roysdon: This was, for me, from my life experience, a crucial image to see.

Narrator: Artist Emily Roysdon describes the impact of this painting.

Emily Roysdon: It was this profound intimacy mixed with rage. It was an emotional bond and a political moment.

The thing with David's work to me was always that—I think people like to talk about the rage that is in his work and, and that he expressed himself in those very terms, but for me there, there was always this kind of hope that was also coupled with that. Just because of the depth of his articulation. Because he was so analytic, so forceful about another vision that he had for what life could be, what America could be, and what he kind of would demand of a loving, tolerant, reasonable, radical society. Because he could be so explicit about that, there was this kind of hopefulness also that was important to me.

Narrator: In 1991, Wojnarowicz made a recording of the text screened over this painting. To hear him read it, please tap to continue.