Divine 09-03-78 1978

Curator: Don Bachardy captured this portrait, titled "Divine 09-03-78," using graphite on paper. Editor: The starkness of the graphite amplifies Divine's gaze; there's such arresting directness in the way Bachardy frames their presence. Curator: Bachardy’s portraiture became a means of chronicling the LGBTQ+ community and its evolving presence. Editor: Considering the date, this piece resonates deeply. The urgency in capturing Divine, a figure challenging gender norms, feels potent. Curator: Exactly, Bachardy's rapid style mirrors Divine's own performance, capturing both vulnerability and defiance simultaneously. It’s as though they were creating a dialogue across mediums. Editor: It makes you think about representation, doesn’t it? Who gets seen, how they're seen, and the power dynamics inherent in those choices. Curator: Indeed. Bachardy’s historical context and quick execution provide a lens through which we can examine these figures and the politics of visibility. Editor: It reminds us that representation itself is an act of activism, a way of claiming space and challenging the status quo.