PRINCETON, New Jersey — In Carolee Schneemann’s 1964 film “Meat Joy,” male and female bodies spontaneously writhe against each other on a beach in communal ecstasy as raw fish and chickens flop on their bare skin. “Lollipop” (1958) by the Chordettes plays in the background, before being intercepted by a hazy voiceover in French and English. The earthy eroticism of the six-minute film provokes fascination and disgust, and even led to an assassination attempt on the artist when it first debuted at a performance festival in Paris.
(She survived.) Today, the 16mm film flickers on a wall at Art on Hulfish, Princeton University’s gallery and activity space, as part of the exhibition Don’t we touch each other just to prove we are still here ? Subscribe to our newsletter Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily The latest stories every weekday morning Weekly Editors' picks of the best stories each week Opportunities Monthly list of opportunities for artists, and art workers View our full list of free newsletters .
The exhibition, named after a verse in one of Ocean Vuong’s poems, centers the myriad ways touch shapes the human experience, ranging from the possessive love of a mother holding her child to the violent and coercive touch that sometimes takes place between strangers. Across film, photographs, and mixed-media artworks, 13 artists depict the warmth, sensuality, and force of touch, exploring its relationship with nonhuman objec.