New York is Burning

The title of the painting is inspired by the documentary Paris is Burning (Livingston, 1990) and the painting by itself too. It is about the underground in New York City in the nineties of the 20^th century, about the alternative society of people where is no place to live the way they want because people feel threatened by their existence.

I made a pastel drawing of a black and white documentary of NYC that I saw on YouTube around 1950. Unfortunately I don’t know which documentary it was. The sun is going down or up, you can choose. It is related to Nelson Mandela who was seen as a terrorist even in the time when he was president of South Africa and was welcomed by the US government. Some saw him as a terrorist and others as a freedom fighter. I have made a painting of him where the viewer can choose, or remain silent.

The colours of the painting are related to the gay community (lgbti+) and the colourful painting could be a mosque. It is a reminder that it is dangerous to think black and white, you are for us or against us.

I stand by Käthe Kollwitz who is is saddened that young people must go to fight while they have other, better dreams. 

Corina Karstenberg © Maastricht 2024