After Trump’s inauguration, ANOHNI was compelled to pull a series of books and records from her collection and emblazon within them the directive “DON’T CRY”. The command was issued to various subjects, depending on the nature of the media upon which it was painted.

ANOHNI first read James Purdy’s short story “The Candle of Your Eyes“ in 1987 in The Christopher Street Anthology, while she was still in high school. It was a romantic story about two young homeless gay people who fell in love and froze to death in eachothers arms. IT was the height or AIDS and the dawning of ANOHNI’s adulthood, and the story swept her into a untouchable romantic reverie. Later, reading the devastating “Eustace Chisholm and the Works” ANOHNI found the seeds of brutal inspiration that would inform the development of the song “Fistful of Love. “

James Purdy novel with hand painted ‘DONT CRY GAY’ 2 panel painting, and a verso page inscribed “James”. Also included the flyer from 2009 ofr ‘6 Eyes’ Galerie du Jour exhibition flyer in Paris and an ostrich feather bookmark.