- Felix Gonzalez-Torres's installation named "Portrait of Ross in L.A." is made of 175 pounds of multi-colored candy representing his lover's, Ross Laycock, ideal weight when he died of HIV/AIDS. Viewers are encouraged to take a piece of candy, essentially taking a piece of Ross Laycock with them.
- In "Portrait of Ross in L.A." Gonzalez-Torres uses the distribution of candy to represent eternal life. He views it as the viewers taking a piece of his lover, Ross Laycock, with them into their lives, and thus he lives on. The fact that this candy is constantly replenished suggests that even though Ross is infact dead, he will constantly be remembered and never forgotten.
- I think that what Felix Gonzalez-Torres is really trying to project through his piece "Portrait of Ross in L.A." is a sense of remembrance and love. When I took a piece of the candy, I felt like I was taking a part of both Ross AND Felix. I had both a sense of loss and a feeling of everlasting life. I honestly felt as though I was taking a piece of Ross Laycock with me, somehow bringing him into my life, sharing my life with him. I think that that's exactly what Felix Gonzalez-Torres was aiming for with this installation.
- I really love this piece. I think it conveys many emotions to the viewers and it isn't difficult to understand the meaning.
