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About This Project
Summary
MoMA’s videos make art history accessible and engaging for the public online. In this documentary, we told the story of artist Martin Wong, who was a magnetic figure in 1980s New York: Chinese-American, openly gay, and wildly creative. A hidden painting on the back of one of his major works uncovers the crucial role he played in graffiti art’s emergence from the underground. Archival footage and new interviews make up this portrait of a pivotal moment in New York's history.
Goals & Objectives
We wanted to expose the public to an under-recognized queer artist of color and to convey how art history is alive. One artwork is part of a network of living history which, through careful conservation and study, can uncover how intertwined artists are with their cities, friends, and collaborators.
Results & Impact
The video resonated deeply with our audiences. It has 121.6K views since it was published, a higher-than-average view duration, and got 174 comments, emotional ones that valued the storytelling quality, identified with the subjects, and were grateful to learn about an artist they didn't know.
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