Reading Position for Second Degree Burn 1970

Curator: Wow, a photographic diptych. What I see immediately are tones of red, orange and yellow, heat blazing onto that sand and, of course, skin. There’s a boldness to this body art that simultaneously makes me wince and draw closer. Editor: This is Dennis Oppenheim's "Reading Position for Second Degree Burn," created in 1970. It documents a performance on Jones Beach where Oppenheim lay for five hours with a book placed on his chest, resulting in a severe sunburn in the shape of the book. Curator: Ah, conceptual. The book itself is a "Tactics Anthology", if I remember correctly. How cheeky! This almost feels…carnal? He’s using his own body as a canvas, almost as a flippant gesture. Like, "Oh, another day at the beach. Let's play with solar energy." I do wonder though, what are his tactics here? Editor: The piece engages directly with themes of vulnerability and control, mirroring the tactical and often violent strategies governments use on citizens’ bodies. There is commentary about power dynamics here—surrender and resistance—rendered through something as immediate and relatable as a sunburn. Think about bodies exposed and bare on beaches but how that intersects with questions of forced exposure to systems that oppress individuals. Curator: True, and given the context of the Vietnam War protests at the time, that resistance to oppression would absolutely be the subtext. So the red burn isn’t just the pain but maybe this work signifies a mark or brand to remind us how easily our flesh – our freedoms – can be marked and molded by the forces above. This resonates powerfully today, particularly in how information warfare now wages violence on individual lives and perceptions of truth. Editor: Exactly, so what appears like reckless self-harm, becomes a charged meditation on vulnerability, knowledge, and how sociopolitical structures shape even the most personal experiences, literally etching their narratives onto our very skin. Curator: Skin deep yet monumentally profound, I think! Now I’m off to find my sunblock, or perhaps not. Thanks for enlightening me once more. Editor: My pleasure. It’s pieces like this that remind us that art is everywhere, especially when we confront discomfort.