Trust Me | Whitney Museum of American Art
D'Angelo Lovell Williams, Nah, 2018. Inkjet print: sheet (sight): 44 1/2 × 29 1/2in. (113 × 74.9 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Photography Committee 2020.130. © D'Angelo Lovell Williams
Written by Simran Tuteja
The definition of trust is the one thing that has retained its meaning within our period of recorded history. It is not merely limited to human relationships but extends to other beings as well, such as a dog trusting its caregiver. Trust is the most intimate feeling that brings humans together, both consciously and subconsciously. It is a shared emotional experience that dives into vulnerabilities, bonds, communication, and togetherness. Eleven artists share their perspective on trust in a new exhibition, Trust Me, scheduled to be showcased starting August 19, 2023 and will go on till November 26, 2023 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. The artists whose work is being showcased include Laura Aguilar, Genesis Báez, Alvin Baltrop, Jenny Calivas, Moyra Davey, Lola Flash, Barbara Hammer, Muriel Hasbun, Dakota Mace, Mary Manning, and D’Angelo Lovell Williams.
Laura Aguilar, Will Work For #4, from the series Will Work, 1993. Gelatin silver print, sheet: 19 7/8 × 15 15/16 in. (50.5 × 40.5 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Director’s Discretionary Fund 2019.394. © Laura Aguilar Trust of 2016
Laura Aguilar, Nature Self Portrait #6, from the series Nature Self Portrait, 1996. Gelatin silver print: sheet, 16 × 20 in. (40.6 × 50.8 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Director’s Discretionary Fund 2019.395. © Laura Aguilar Trust of 2016
Laura Aguilar puts her trust in the audience by giving us ‘Nature Self Portrait #6’ from the series Nature Self Portrait (1996). In the black and white photograph, our subject (a naked woman) can be seen lying on rocks, surrounded by water and plants. The serenity of the image calls the audience to appreciate the beauty of nature and humans, as well as to celebrate our existence. Laura Aguilar was a Chincana artist renowned for her Chincanx and queer art scenes whose perspective on identity affected the public at large. Among other works to be exhibited of hers include ‘Will Work For #4’ from the series Will Work (1993) and ‘Plush Pony #2’ from the series Plush Pony (1992).
Genesis Báez, The Sound of a Circle, 2018. Inkjet print: sheet, 27 3/8 × 37 5/8 in. (69.5 × 95.6 cm); image, 24 1/16 × 33 5/8 in. (61.1 × 85.4 cm). Edition 4/5. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase with funds from the Anne Levy Fund. © Genesis Báez
Genesis Báez’s ‘The Sound of Circle’ (2018) focuses on the trust between two female subjects. The color image features two women: one wearing a white shirt, the other is wearing a yellow shirt, both sitting in a public setting. Báez artfully captures one of our subjects whispering something in the other’s ear while the other traces her finger around the half filled glass. The image invites the audience to listen carefully and become a part of the secret the two women are sharing. Other images by the artist showcased that ask the audience to get involved in the process of trusting are ‘Parting (Braid)’ (2021) and ‘Cross Time’ (2022).
Barbara Hammer, Barbara & Terry, 1972. Gelatin silver print on stock board, sheet: 9 1/8 × 7 in. (23.2 × 17.8 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Director’s Discretionary Fund 2018.149. © Barbara Hammer
In a black and white photograph titled ‘Barbara and Terry’ (1972), Barbara Hammer sets two naked subjects against a natural background. The subjects embrace each other, basking in each other’s presence as they lie amongst tall grass. In this image, the artist establishes intimacy as a form of trust, enticing the audience to appreciate the act of touch and human bonding.
D'Angelo Lovell Williams, Elysian, 2018. Inkjet print: sheet (sight): 44 9/16 × 29 1/2in. (113.2 × 74.9 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Photography Committee 2020.129. © D'Angelo Lovell Williams
Another image on the lines of intimacy is D'Angelo Lovell Williams’ ‘Elysian’ (2018). Also using nature as the background, Williams proficiently captures two people, one of whom wears an oversized gray colored shirt while the other one wears a yellow shirt with white fishnet stockings underneath, holding each other. What sets this image apart is that one of the subjects is hidden within the background,so that only their hands and legs can be seen protruding to hold the other subject.
Moyra Davey, Trust Me, 2011. Chromogenic prints, collaged printed labels, tape, canceled postage stamps, and fiber-tipped pen, sheet: 18 × 12 in. (45.7 × 30.5 cm) each. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Laura Belgray and Steven Eckler 2020.181a-p. © Moyra Davey
Trust Me, organized by Kelly Long, Senior Curatorial Assistant at the Whitney Museum of American Art, also includes chemigrams, collages and mat boards by various other artists. The works exhibited belong to a group of intergenerational artists that form part of the Whitney Museums’ permanent collection. Their works have previously been displayed at The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, Indiana University, Bloomington;The Los Angeles County Museum of Art; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York City; The Center for Photography at Woodstock, Kingston; and Huxley-Parlour, London, among many other museums and galleries.
The Whitney Museum of American Art was founded in 1930 and focuses on American Art of the 20th and 21st century. Its permanent collection includes more than 25000 artworks (paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, films, and videos) by over 3500 artists. It is located in Lower Manhattan, New York.
