Martin Kersels

Tossing a Friend (Patty), 1996

Martin Kersels (American, born 1960), Tossing a Friend (Patty), 1996, chromogenic print on Fujiflex, 26 1/2 x 39 1/2 in. Schwartz Art Collection, Harvard Business School, 1998.16. © 2020 Martin Kersels.

Tossing a Friend depicts the artist in the act of throwing six of his friends; each launched a total of fifteen times. For Kersels, the consensual aspect of what might be an awkward arrangement is significant. The binding force of friendship modifies what might appear as an act of aggression that becomes, rather, an activity of confidence and fun.