'The Gang' Display

#opiethegang

'The Gang: Photographs by Catherine Opie' is an exhibition of work by the renowned American artist.
The iconic image The Gang, presented to the Walker by the Contemporary Art Society with the support of the gallery, gives the exhibition its name and is one of 25 photographs by Opie on display. It features Opie’s friends photographed together in a humorous pose that is defiant, yet tender.

The exhibition celebrates the acquisition by the Walker Art Gallery of Opie’s photograph, ‘The Gang’. This was presented by the Contemporary Art Society with the support of funding from the Gallery in 2014.
Opie’s portraits of her friends from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community subvert American archetypes. Opie’s attempt to make visible a misunderstood sector of American culture, produces a body of work that is at times explicit and challenging in its content, but also playful and intimate.

Catherine Opie says,

“I made The Gang after individually shooting them all for the 1991 body of work, Being and Having. It was great to see them with their mustaches and I couldn't resist making some group photos of them… I think it is perfect in celebrating Homotopia as this work was made 20 years ago, in relationship to visibility within my own queer community. It is good to celebrate and reflect on equality that has been achieved and celebrated as well as the fight in regards to homophobia that continues.”

 One word of opinion when I first saw this display was that it was unusual. But the more I looked into it I found the contrast between the color and black and white versions more intense and interesting in terms of documenting social/political aspects on sexuality.
Her work is informed by her identity as an out lesbian which balances her personal and political views. Her assertive portraits bring queers to a forefront that is normally silenced by societal norms.