Art you can eat: 175 pounds of candy

 Word of the week: Liminal (adj.) - On the border of two things, usually two abstract things.

    The usual ambience of an art museum is filled with whispers of “what do you think this one means?” and the weight of the unspoken rule that pieces are solely present to be admired from afar– meaning absolutely no touching. This is told to us by various warning signs and winding black stanchions that are forbidden to cross. Even though art supposedly has no boundaries, there is no room for sticky fingerprints and accidental food stains in the presence of million dollar canvases. 

    Very rarely, you may stumble upon a piece that requires the participation of onlookers to become a piece of art. One of these few and far between pieces resides in the Art Institute of Chicago, and at first glance, resembles a regular pile of candy. Something you’d find on discount on a Sunday Costco trip, or a child's halloween spoils. “Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.)” by Felix Gonzalez-Torres is 175 pounds of pure sugar. 

    The weight of the pile actually represents Gonzalez-Torres’ lover (Ross), who passed away due to AIDS-related complications in 1991– the same year the piece was created. Every time someone takes a piece of candy, the weight of the sculpture reduces– similar to how Ross’ body gradually decayed due to the disease. However, the anticipation of getting to have a piece of candy is always bright, which is something that is common for all the people who take part in the sculpture. This piece balances on the border between joy and loss, and how they both play a part in transformation, which is necessary for growth. 

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