Last Address Artists By Ira Sachs (1)

A compilation of memoirs that takes a look at the homes of artists who died of AIDS in New York over the last 30 years.

23 Feb, 20244 min read

I wanted to make a compilation of remembrances by taking a look at the houses where New York artists who died of AIDS lived in the last 30 years.

First of all, I would like to talk a little about Ira Sachs. Ira Sachs's film Untitled, consisting of portraits taken from flyers hung on the streets of New York after 9/11, brought certain memories back to life. After 2002, he foresees the association by reviving a memory with Last Address in 2010.

Untitled (2002) - Short(2)

Last Address (2009) - Short(2)

Let's remember by taking a brief look at the artists featured in the short film.

Cookie Mueller was both a writer and an actor.

The last of Mueller's quotes, an elegy of her intent and existence, was written shortly before her death:

Fortunately, I am not the first person to tell you that you will never die. You simply lose your body. You will be the same except you won't have to worry about rent or mortgages or fashionable clothes. You will be released from sexual obsessions. You will not have drug addictions. You will not need alcohol. You will not have to worry about cellulite or cigarettes or cancer or AIDS or venereal disease. You will be free. [1]

Ron Vawter

The actor, who took part in important films such as ''The Silence of the Lambs'', also had experimental theater works.

Charles Ludlam

Charles Ludlam, who said, “I want to work in tradition and my work is based on classical comedy,” was a director, actor, and playwright.

Joe Brainard

The book ''I Remember'' by Joe Brainard, a writer who creates collages and assemblages, has become a text that many people read and study.

Luis Frangella

He was deemed worthy of many awards and his works were exhibited not only in exhibition halls but also in places such as nightclubs, where the main focus is secondary, where there is a lot of action.

Arthur Russell

Arthur Russell, who adopted the avant-garde and disco life in New York after graduating from school, also turned to genres such as dance music over time, many of his works were left unfinished and a compilation was published after his death. Additionally, a 71-minute documentary directed by Matt Wolf was released in 2008.

Klaus Nomi

Klaus Nomi, who attracted attention with his different style, was a countertenor whose performances made a big impact.

Ethyl Eichelberger

Ethyl Eichelberger was a drag artist who made a big impact with his play writings in the field of experimental theater.

Peter Hujar

Peter Hujar, whose photographs I still admire, specialized in black-and-white portrait photography, and was independent and noble. He started to take care of himself at an early age, his soul said freedom anyway. It was obvious from a very young age that he would become a popular photographer because he had mastered his technique at an early age. The photographs he took were masterpieces.

David Wojnarowicz

David Wojnarowicz, who had a difficult childhood (just because we say so, is what makes David David), was greatly influenced by Rimbaud in his youth. He spent his life on the streets, he was angry; and was mostly silenced. It was as if he couldn't find a place for himself in the world. He met Peter Hujar. He became her lover, her friend, her teacher. Like Rimbaud, he died at the age of 37. The communication between David Wojnarowicz and Peter Hujar seems extraordinary to me.