FUND A MENTAL: Political intervention art of Rolando Chang Barrero

 FUND A MENTAL

Political intervention art of Rolando Chang Barrero

The late 1980s marked a period of cultural and political change, and art was not exempt from the debates and conflicts that arose during that time. Censorship of art during this period was a complex and contentious issue which can be attributed to conservative efforts to create some of the broadest anti-gay policies in the United States during the AIDS pandemic.

Visual artists like Rolando Chang Barrero took to political intervention art, often referred to as "political art" or "art activism," as his main form of artistic expression. Going beyond mere aesthetics or entertainment he sought to engage viewers on the street instead of confines of the gallery. 

"I was seeking less academic intellectualism and and more of a cathartic emotional response to the political climate of the time. I was encouraging the public to reflect on current events and consider alternative perspectives through my pantings, films, and performance work."- Rolando Chang Barrero

It's important to note that Jesse Helms was a major polarizing figure, with supporters who applauded his conservative values and opponents who decried his stance on LGBTQ+ issues and AIDS. Also, that the outcry against his anti-gay laws served as a testament to the strength of the LGBTQ+ community's resilience and the broader movement for equal rights and social justice.

The Fund a Mental project was a live interactive performance art intervention that took place on the corner of West Belmont Ave and Clark Street in Chicago during the afternoon rush hour. Donning a two sided political sandwich board, akin to those widely used during the Suffrage, Civil Rights and Labor Movements, I presented pedestrians and drivers with stickers the echoed the placards I wore.

FIND A MENTAL was the breaking down the word fundamental to it's three syllables of the new message to bring to light that the public was in fact funding the efforts to support censorship, racism, bigotry, and homophobia by choice or otherwise.

The signature "Barbie ®" was used by the artist to accentuate the lack of genitalia in a repressed society, the copyright symbol was my actually my signature in most of the work produced during that period as it was the inverse of RC "Roly Chang".

Other works:

Jesse Helms in the Garden of Adam and Steve

Morbid Morbidity

Til The Cows Come Home