Test Pattern: T.V. Dinner Plates from the Miss General Idea Pavillion, Spiral (Wacoal Art Center), Tokyo (14 October-6 November 1988)
General Idea was a Canadian artist collective formed in 1969 by AA Bronson, Felix Partz, and Jorge Zontal. Renowned for their avant-garde conceptual and performance art, the trio became influential figures in the international art scene, known for provocative gestures that had their roots in counterculture and the queer scene. Their work often critiqued the art establishment (such as in the 1970–71 performance Miss General Idea Pageant) and government responses to the AIDS crisis via tongue-in-cheek humor.
They are perhaps best known for their iconic image, “Imagevirus,” which appropriated Robert Indiana’s LOVE design, transforming it into a symbol of AIDS awareness. This work exemplified General Idea’s approach to art as a means of social commentary and activism. The group remained active until the deaths of Felix Partz and Jorge Zontal in 1994 due to AIDS-related illnesses.
2nd edition:
General Idea (Canadian, active 1969-1994)
Test Pattern: T.V. Dinner Plate 1988
Porcelain plate in cardboard box, label (offset on paper)
Box: 24.5 x 31 x 2.8 cm; plate: 22.5 x 20 x 1.5 cm
Edition of 300, unsigned and unnumbered
Self-published
