“It’s not so much how it makes me feel. It’s how it makes me think.”
In the documentary Scooter LaForge: A Life of Art, artist Joel Handorff is among numerous voices highlighting the work of Scooter LaForge, a unique queer artist whose creations are in demand by today’s celebrities and art enthusiasts in New York. Handorff’s poignant remark encapsulates the essence of LaForge’s art, which resonates deeply throughout the documentary by Ethan H. Minsker.
Minsker immerses himself in LaForge’s world, piecing together the influences that shaped the artist’s identity. From his New Mexico roots to navigating the challenging 1990s scene, marked by societal prejudices and the AIDS crisis, LaForge’s journey is laid bare through candid testimonials. He emerges as a complex figure, using art as a means of catharsis amid chaos. His perspective on the world is strikingly unique: a blend of disorder, beauty, and subversion.
The director ensures that LaForge’s peers share their insights, helping viewers grasp the multifaceted nature of the artist’s work, which can often seem abstract. While I may not be an art expert, appreciating LaForge’s creations requires delving into the motivations behind them. This isn’t mere desperation; it’s a deliberate expression stemming from a tumultuous mind. LaForge’s artistic ventures extend beyond canvases to encompass clothing and myriad everyday items.
Scooter LaForge: A Life of Art quickly reveals the artist’s candid expression of his frustrations as well as his more intimate, amiable views. Some viewers may not resonate with his politically charged perspective, yet LaForge’s work undoubtedly ignites discourse, proving just as divisive as it is pertinent. He has a talent for redirecting attention, ensuring the audience takes notice. Mission accomplished.
Fans of pop and abstract art will thoroughly enjoy Scooter LaForge: A Life of Art. The film adeptly contextualizes the artist’s more provocative works, guiding you into a realm where chaos reigns, ambition is innocent, and endless worlds are cloaked in vibrant colors.
Film critic. Enthusiast of horror. Member of the OFCS. RT Approved Critic.
