Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner, New York/London
During the height of censorship placement on exhibitions funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Philip-Lorca diCorcia subtly challenged the system by paying male prostitutes their going rate with grant money he received from the same independent government agency. Creating fictitious settings in various locations throughout the Los Angeles area, diCorcia utilized ambient and artificial light blurring the lines of fact and fantasy. Twenty years after its Museum of Modern Art debut, “Hustlers” has returned to New York. The 36-photograph exhibition is accompanied by the video installation “Best Seen, Not Heard,” which juxtaposes the entire collection, many not exhibited, with opening and closing text of old porn flicks. “Hustlers” will be showing at David Zwirner’s 525 West 19th Street gallery. The opening reception is tonight from 6pm-8pm and will be on exhibition through November 2.