“Untitled” Billboard of an empty bed

by Félix González-Torres

1991

An image of black-and-white sheets and pillows on an unmade bed hung on 24 billboards is another way of Félix to raise awareness to the AIDS crisis and a way to memorialize his lover Ross who passed away from AIDS. The image is both innocent and haunting showing rest, death, comfort, intimacy and loneliness. The number 24 represents the date Ross passed away. It’s a subtle and poetic way to raise awareness. Because of these billboards they made the crisis beautifully confrontational for the public.

Tags: beautiful, conceptual, awareness, advertising, poetic, meaningful, raw, grieve, confrontational