ArtReview's 2015 Archive Piece Explores Art's Relationship with Hygiene, Germs, and Cleanliness

ArtReview revisits Chris Fite-Wassilak's 2015 piece that examines how contemporary art interacts with themes of dirt, germs, and hygiene. It outlines a historical connection from early 20th-century media to current artistic practices. In 1903, the presentation of 'The Cheese Mites' at London’s Alhambra Theatre not only increased microscope sales but also incited a backlash from the cheese industry, ultimately resulting in the establishment of the Institute of Hygiene. This newfound awareness of microorganisms shaped modern hygienist thought, evident in the works of Anish Kapoor and Jeff Koons. Significant pieces include Dieter Roth's 1970 'Staple Cheese (A Race)', the Vienna Actionists, Carolee Schneemann's 1964 'Meat Joy', and Paul McCarthy's creations. Recent exhibitions, such as 'Progress and Hygiene' at Warsaw's National Gallery of Art, delve into eugenics and bodily concerns. This article was featured in the Summer 2015 edition of ArtReview.