New Museum

Tonight I went back in time – twenty years, to be exact – to see a New York of days gone by.

The New Museum on the Bowery is currently showcasing art from 1993 – almost like a time capsule – that gives a brilliant insight into what was on the mind of New Yorkers two decades before I moved here.

New Museum
'Heathers'

‘Heathers’

John Miller, 'Clubs for America'. Photos showing closed-down clubs in NYC, showing a shift in attitudes towards sexual freedom

John Miller, ‘Clubs for America’. Photos showing closed-down clubs in NYC, showing a shift in attitudes towards sexual freedom

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While the art was varied both in medium and message, all pieces had one thing in common: They were exhibited somewhere in the city that year (when I was a mere seven-year-old bairn).

There were also consistent themes: The devastation and different faces of AIDS, the recession, challenging stereotypes of masculinity and women embracing their genders and, er, parts.

Short film interviewing AIDS sufferers

Short film interviewing AIDS sufferers

Nan Goldin, Gilles and Gotscho, Paris

Nan Goldin, ‘Gilles and Gotscho, Paris’; following a couple dealing with AIDS

Jason Rhoades, 'Garage Renovation New York'; large installation representing a garage

Jason Rhoades, ‘Garage Renovation New York’; large installation representing a garage

But it's made of cardboard and the tools are made from foil; challenges masculinity as they look like tools but they're incapable of completing a task

But it’s made of cardboard and the tools are made from foil; challenges masculinity as they look like tools but they’re incapable of completing a task

While some themes showed the differences between now and then, others revealed not much has changed in 20 years at all. It was pretty horrifying to know that attitudes towards women haven’t entirely shifted. I can see this thought in many men’s minds today.

Sue Williams
The full piece

The full piece

Thankfully some things are a little different.

'In Honor of Allen R. Schindler' by Marlene McCarty and Donald Moffett in remembrance of Schindler, who was killed for being gay

‘In Honor of Allen R. Schindler’ by Marlene McCarty and Donald Moffett in remembrance of Schindler, who was killed for being gay

It appeared on a Manhattan subway stop

It appeared on a Manhattan subway stop

I’ve never been to the New Museum before, and it’s a cracking space for the center of the city, and I thought this was a brilliant idea for an exhibition.

And the best bit? The New Museum is free on a Thursday from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Woo.

'Lick and Lather' by Janine Antoni. These are made of soap and chocolate and the artist would lick or lather them to remodel the busts

‘Lick and Lather’ by Janine Antoni. These are made of soap and chocolate and the artist would lick or lather them to remodel the busts

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Felix Gonzalez-Torres, 'Untitled'

Felix Gonzalez-Torres, ‘Untitled’