Thine Face Is Not Worth Sunburning

Curated by Brooke Wise

“Thine Face Is Not Worth Sunburning” is a collection of works whose subject matter plays with sarcasm or humor as a means of coping. Satire, absurdity, and humor—both intentional and unintentional—have been used as vehicles to cope with our day-to-day realities ever since humans started making art. Examples of this can be seen in Katie Stout’s aptly titled The Only Lady You Can Expect To Handle Your Shit in 2021; Paul McCarthy’s Tree Plug series, in which erotic toys are used as a means of social commentary; and Martha Wilson’s visual and titular pun in Bear In Mind/Bare In Hind. These works may first appear playful, but they also pointedly address the political and social issues of our time. The collection’s title, …