Artists Explore Queer Politics Through Decay and Urban Critique
Artists Neal Auch and Alex Turgeon employ decay as a queer artistic strategy to critique consumerism and capitalism. Auch creates vanitas still life photography featuring rotting objects and sex toys, referencing classical memento mori themes to highlight life's transience. Turgeon addresses urban decay and gentrification through installations like 'Waste Land' (2024) at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery, examining how financialization displaces communities. Their work connects to broader queer theoretical frameworks, including ideas from Jack Halberstam and Julia Kristeva, challenging normative values and advocating for humility and ecological awareness.
Key facts
- Neal Auch produces vanitas still life photography with decaying items and erotic objects.
- Alex Turgeon's exhibition 'Waste Land' critiques gentrification and urban financialization.
- Both artists use decay as a tool to question capitalism and normative social structures.
Entities
Artists
- Neal Auch
- Alex Turgeon
Institutions
- Southern Alberta Art Gallery
Locations
- Lethbridge
- Halifax