JESSICA YATROFSKY, PHOTOGRAPHY, A HISTORY OF MASTURBATION
The video chronicles an androgynous and tattooed young man, the type of model that wouldn’t be out of place in conceptual style bibles like Re-edition or Man About Town, posing, while a narrator asks the viewer, “Is this Art?,” or, “if the New York Times said this was art, would it be art?” The video explores the themes prevalent in Yatrofsky’s output: the human body, human sexuality, and when the body and sexuality become read and/or understood as fine art. But placed near the entrance of the NSFW exhibition, it sets up the overarching concepts found within the show; specifically the widening spectrums of sexuality in contemporary art. “Some will find this exhibition beautiful, and some will find it challenging,” says Rivera. “We want the viewers to be asking themselves these questions asked in [Yatrofsky’s video] while they go through the show.” - Forbes