Art of medicine: What the activism and art of Felix Gonzalez-Torres and Gregg Bordowitz teach us about health and human rights

Abstract

Living through a pandemic and social upheaval suggests the importance of revisiting the intersections of the art and activism of Felix Gonzalez- Torres and Gregg Bordowitz. These artists' works express their experiences of living through a pandemic and subsequent social change and draw out key human rights themes. The works' materials, poetics, and invitations to interact offer opportunities for audiences to reflect on complex and ethically relevant social and cultural dynamics that surface during global crises, such as negotiating personal and collective interests, the politics of touch and coexistence, and cultivating resilience and strength.