Feel it motherfuckers: only unclaimed item from the Stephen  Earabino Estate

by John Boskovich

1997

No, this isn’t just an electric fan. It’s one of Boskovich’s most tragic works. It’s am electric fan found in his lover’s Stephen Earabino’s apartment after Earabino passed away from AIDS. Boskovich discovered that everything from Earaabino’s apartment had been cleaned out (with many of Boskovich’s possessions as well) except for this by his family. This work raises awareness for the AIDS crisis back in the 60s. An entire person, relationship, and existence had been erased like so many were during the AIDS crisis. So, Boskovich encased the fan in plexiglass as evidence and added cut-outs which allowed its air to be felt by the viewer, kind of like an exhalation. It’s sort of restoring Earabino’s breath, Boskovich makes a tender as well as a broken-heartwed gesture towards some form of eternal life.

Tags: conceptual, advertising, awareness, meaningful, serious, raw, art installation