Death Of An Artist

Apple, Spotify and others

Is it possible to separate the art from the artist?

It is a question critics, curators and art lovers have grappled with for decades, and one that Death Of An Artist focuses on sculptor Carl Andre, a pioneer of the minimalism movement, who has been at the centre of both silence and protests since the sudden, shocking death of his wife,Ana Mendieta in 1985.

Hosted by art historian Helen Molesworth, the six-part documentary series explores the events before and after Mendieta (pictured above), a rising CubanAmerican performance artist, “went out the window” of the couple’s 34th floor Manhattan apartment – and why her tragic death divided the art world as Andre went on trial for seconddegree murder.

Although many aspects of the true crime genre are present in Death Of An Artist, the series doesn’t just ask what happened on the night Mendieta fell to her death. It also examines how friends, colleagues and contemporaries of the couple responded to the tragedy, revealing why, despite his acquittal,Andre remains a controversial figure to this day.

As Molesworth explains:“Most folks don’t want to discuss what happened that night.They don’t want to talk about what the ramifications of that night were on the art world, they don’t want to contemplate what it means when a community is torn apart by violence, and they don’t want to discuss whether or not justice has been served.”

Asking whether it’s possible to love Mendieta’s moving, empowering work while also being a fan of Andre’s sculptures, which are still exhibited around the world, the series is both thought-provoking and intriguing – and a must-listen for both art connoisseurs and whodunit fans alike.

Don’t expect to leave with all your questions answered, but do expect to want to know more.