Olivia Laing on David Wojnarowicz: Art as Survival and Resistance

In the upcoming Summer/Autumn 2026 edition of Another Man, Olivia Laing delves into the life and artistry of David Wojnarowicz. Born on 14 September 1954 in Red Bank, New Jersey, he faced a tumultuous upbringing marked by an abusive father and periods of homelessness in New York City, where he hustled in Times Square. His identity as a queer individual empowered him, allowing him to distance himself from a 'sick society.' Using a stolen camera, he began documenting the overlooked aspects of life. In 1979, he crafted a mask of Arthur Rimbaud and photographed a friend in perilous areas like the West Side piers. Wojnarowicz's artistic endeavors spanned drawing, painting, film, graffiti, writing, and the punk band 3 Teens Kill 4. He was close to figures such as Kiki Smith, Nan Goldin, Zoe Leonard, and Peter Hujar. After being diagnosed HIV-positive following Hujar's death, he became involved with ACT UP and featured in Rosa von Praunheim's 1990 documentary 'Silence=Death.' Wojnarowicz passed away on 2 July 1992 at the age of 37 in his loft on Second Avenue. Laing emphasizes his belief in a 'pre-invented world' and the power of imagination. A special hardback edition of Laing's 'The Lonely City' will be available on 4 June 2026, and she is scheduled to discuss Wojnarowicz at Union Chapel on 23 June.