Gran Fury
Encyclopedia
Gran Fury was an activist/artist collective that came together in 1988. They took the name Gran Fury as it was the specific Plymouth model used by the New York Police Department, for unmarked police cars. The name was also meant to reference their anger about the AIDS pandemic
. Gran Fury acted as ACT UP's (AIDS
Coalition to Unleash Power) unofficial propaganda ministry, creating work that used the same strategies as advertising
to reach a wider audience.
Gran Fury did a number of works representing their outrage towards the AIDS pandemic, as well as to point out the governments lack of action towards finding a cure or informing the public. Formed as an affinity group within ACT UP to create the New Museum installation, "LET THE RECORD SHOW", founding members continued working together as an art collective. The installation included a neon version of the Silence=Death Project's already existing symbol, SILENCE=DEATH, however, underneath the pink triangle there are silhouettes of what Douglas Crimp refers to as "AIDS criminals" - people who were perpetuating silence surrounding or misrepresentations of AIDS. At the foot of each silhouette is a quote from each person impressed on a block of cement that shows their view on AIDS.
They also aimed to push various individuals such as Ronald Reagan, New York Mayor at the time Ed Koch
, and John Cardinal O'Connor to address the AIDS pandemic in what they considered to be a more practical, open way, as well as to inform the public on the importance of safer sex and clean needles. By the early and mid-1990s the group had found it hard to make simple works surrounding the AIDS issue, and had starting using more text which had made it hard for the group to shock and relay their messages as effectively as before. They also found the issue much more complex and finally, in 1994, after the death of member and close friend Mark Simpson, the group disbanded. Mark died of AIDS on November 10, 1996
AIDS pandemic
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome pandemic is a widespread disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus .Since AIDS was first recognized in 1981, it has led to the deaths of more than 25 million people, making it one of the most destructive diseases in recorded history.Despite recent...
. Gran Fury acted as ACT UP's (AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
Coalition to Unleash Power) unofficial propaganda ministry, creating work that used the same strategies as advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
to reach a wider audience.
Gran Fury did a number of works representing their outrage towards the AIDS pandemic, as well as to point out the governments lack of action towards finding a cure or informing the public. Formed as an affinity group within ACT UP to create the New Museum installation, "LET THE RECORD SHOW", founding members continued working together as an art collective. The installation included a neon version of the Silence=Death Project's already existing symbol, SILENCE=DEATH, however, underneath the pink triangle there are silhouettes of what Douglas Crimp refers to as "AIDS criminals" - people who were perpetuating silence surrounding or misrepresentations of AIDS. At the foot of each silhouette is a quote from each person impressed on a block of cement that shows their view on AIDS.
They also aimed to push various individuals such as Ronald Reagan, New York Mayor at the time Ed Koch
Ed Koch
Edward Irving "Ed" Koch is an American lawyer, politician, and political commentator. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and three terms as mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989...
, and John Cardinal O'Connor to address the AIDS pandemic in what they considered to be a more practical, open way, as well as to inform the public on the importance of safer sex and clean needles. By the early and mid-1990s the group had found it hard to make simple works surrounding the AIDS issue, and had starting using more text which had made it hard for the group to shock and relay their messages as effectively as before. They also found the issue much more complex and finally, in 1994, after the death of member and close friend Mark Simpson, the group disbanded. Mark died of AIDS on November 10, 1996
External links
- Queer Cultural Center archive
- Collective retrospective essay
- "Gran Fury talks to Douglas Crimp" (Artforum)
- "When Political Art Mattered" (New York Times)
- Gran Fury collection, 1987-1995, Manuscripts and Archive, New York Public Library.