THEGAYUK

Tag: Art

All the latest breaking news on art. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on art.

  • INTERVIEW: From Kentucky With Love: Photgrapher Jon Eland

    Jon Eland is a Leeds based photographer who has steadily built a strong reputation for intelligent, inventive male portraiture.

    2014 was his most prolific year to date and seen his work receive wider recognition, including a solo exhibition in his home city this summer which won much attention as well as some excellent reviews.

    For his latest project, KY Guys, Jon has turned his sights across the Atlantic bringing a British sensibility to a series of portraits of men all hailing from the US State of Kentucky, the result of a recent trip to the city of Louisville.

    RG: How does a Yorkshireman wind up taking photographs in Kentucky?

    JE: Back in 2010 I was running a Leeds-based photography group and we held an exhibition. At that exhibition a representative of the local council asked if we’d consider hosting a photographer from Louisville, Kentucky. After we clarified the reason why, that Leeds is partnered with the city and he was looking to capture some of Leeds to share with the good folk of his own city – I said ‘sure… and how about one of us makes the return trip?’

    After the council agreed to the idea, discussions were had and I was nominated to make the trip. I visited twice representing the city and my group – in 2011 and 2012 and then took a break.

    2014 saw me return entirely under my own steam – essentially as a vacation and to see some of the many friends I’d made in Kentucky.

     

    RG: It’s clearly a place you have great affection for. What is it that draws you back? The people clearly but it also sounds like it’s fast become a second home.

    Absolutely! It’s one of those places that, on the surface, looks like a normal American city – and at the ‘big’ level a bit like my own. But once you peel away the top layer you get to an interesting liberal city with a strong blend of cultures and a great attitude to the arts.

     

    RG: One of the things I love about KY Guys is it does feel very natural and unaffected. And the location is great. Where was it shot?

    JE: The location is a unit situated close to the city centre that my friend, Michael, has owned for a number of years. It’s been offices for most of its life – initially for the tobacco industry. But he’s currently renovating it to be an AirBNB location.

    I loved it cos of the great natural light. It’s got 3 tall windows either side – both north and south facing.

     

    RG: It looks a great space. Did it influence the style of the series? You mentioned the natural light and there is something very relaxed and at ease about the photographs that makes it feel different to the usual set of male nudes?

    JE: That was intentional. In my previous visit I shot Alex (who also appears in KY Guys) in an alley and the light there was great. I’d seen some of Michael’s shots in the space and wanted to give it a go; having had limited experience with natural light nudes – especially inside.

    I intentionally stayed away from more traditional erotically charged imagery – I wanted the guys to be themselves, relaxed with (hopefully) a hint of seduction. I also chose the non-commercial route of a mixture of guys. I’m not someone who believes in adhering to types or tribe-chasing – so it was great to get a mix – I just wish I had been there longer and got an even greater diversity.

     

    RG: Yes, it is a pretty diverse series of guys that you’ve featured. How did you find them? I assume they’re all locals.

    Yeah – they’re all living within a 20 mile radius of the studio space. In preparation I contacted some through modelling sites, but the majority were guys I found through the mobile apps – so I guess I should thank Growlr and Scruff for the intros!

     

    RG: Hahaha… Those apps have so many uses!! But I guess that also means there are quite a few who had never modeled before?

    JE: Yes – the majority in fact. And, while there were some nerves, all the guys were fairly up for it. I ensured they all knew they had as a minimum to get their shirts off, but many were quite happy to be completely naked. I’m guessing the unseasonably warm weather at the time helped (it was 30°+ in early Oct – and I needed a/c to keep the place cool enough to work in!)

    But feedback has been great – all of them are still in touch with me – many added to my extensive Louisville Facebook family.

    I do wonder if some were taken in by the English charm and Yorkshire brogue though.

     

    RG: You should ask them…! As someone who has also photographed many British chaps, and I know that this is a terribly general question, but did you find any difference between working with US and UK guys?

    JE: I think Americans in general are brought up to put themselves ‘out there’ a bit more than we are, and I think this helped with the attitude, along with the concept of being offered free photos a bit more unusual in that city. I found it easier to convince them – however I suspect my being from elsewhere made it easier for them too.

    But once in front of the camera there was little difference in terms of response, attitude and personality.

     

    RG: So a happy experience then?

    I think it was a great collaboration – I learnt loads and the experience of working (and getting people to buy into your activities) in a city far from home is always scary – but generally less of a challenge than you think. Of course the language barrier was a problem – but these things you can get over.

    Once someone’s naked it’s all about treating them with respect and keeping up the banter so you get the right expressions, poses and personality from them.

     

    RG: And it’s great that the feedback from the guys themselves has been so positive. Are there plans to exhibit it in Louisville? Or indeed elsewhere?

    JE: I’m still in the process of editing the photos, shooting 20 guys in a number of poses generates a lot of images – which take some time and, as with all the best creatives, I excel at being distracted by other things! But, I’m looking forward to getting a full set and seeing what I can achieve – at very least there will be a couple of publications made available in the future. I’d love to exhibit the images – and would love to hear from anyone interested in this.

    For now, I’m simply providing a teaser in the way of the 13 guys in the 2015 calendar.

    RG: And a fine teaser it is too! You mentioned working in a city far from home. Does this mean it’s something you want to repeat elsewhere?

    JE: I’m always open to ideas and opportunities. However I’ve also worked in both Sitges and a fishing village in East Lothian and consider all interesting opportunities as they make themselves known. A great example of this is that this time last year I had no interest in Latex and by March I was photo documenting the Manchester Rubberman weekend – in a rubber kilt!

     

    RG: Wow! That is quite a turnaround!! And totally different from KY Guys. Clearly you have quite a few diverse projects on the go. It seems to go without saying then that variety and new challenges are something you welcome as an artist.

    JE: I think it’s important as a photographer to try new things – whether it’s learning empathy with your models by sitting for other photographers yourself or by throwing yourself into strange environments – a week following the drag queen, Lady Diamond in Sitges is another thing I never imagined myself doing before I arrived on location!

     

    RG: What do you think you learnt from the Kentucky project and how might it shape your work in future?

    JE: I learned I love the city even more and would love to work there in the longer term, that naked men in great light take any of the chore from photography and that trying to source and shoot 20 guys in 10 days is a little tiring. But mostly that Kentucky men are soooooo hot!

     

    RG: I think we can all agree about Kentucky Men! I understand that KY Guys is only one of the projects that’s made 2014 a big year for you?

    JE: Yeah – 2014 has been phenomenal At the end of 2013 I did a review gallery of all the guys I shot and thought I’d never surpass that but this year has included (in no special order) the Rubberman weekend, photographing Stuart Hatton – Mr Gay UK (and now World) as a honey bee, documenting Carnaval for Gay Guide Sitges – as well as exhibiting for Brighton, Manchester and Leeds Prides – which included a solo exhibition in Leeds of work in progress for my long running ‘Veiled ‘ project.

    I’m ending the year, equally weirdly, making portraits of models from the northern English porn industry – never a dull day in my lens!

     

  • Interview | Jonathan Lemieux: Dollar Survivalist

    Writer Chris Jones first came across this artist on Facebook, he was a friend of a friend on there and the posts sparked his curiosity. This guy survived on what we’d call pound store food and lived to write a best selling book on the subject – being a starving artist suddenly takes on a new aspect.

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  • REVIEW: Chris Stein/Negative: Me, Blondie and The Advent of Punk, Somerset House, London

    Fittingly it’s Deborah Harry’s opening line in the programme notes that sums it best.

    ”I had no idea that Chris was a voyeur when I met him”

    Currently running til 25th January 2015 at Somerset House to mark the 40th anniversary of Blondie, Chris Stein/Negative: Me, Blondie and The Advent of Punk is a showcase of unpublished photographs by Chris Stein, the hugely successful 70’s band’s co-founder.

    Blondie were undoubtedly one of the most influential bands of their generation with a sound encompassing punk, new wave, hip hop and reggae and in Deborah Harry happened to have one of the most iconic front women of all time. It is no accident that Harry is regularly cited as heroine by so many indie and alt rock musicians that followed.

    Unsurprisingly she dominates the work on show and her beauty, sensuality and good old fashioned star quality is the exhibition’s main selling point. There is a mix of candid outtakes, a snapshot taken backstage with David Bowie a particular highlight and unseen pictures from magazine shoots. This is no one woman show however. Images of other figures from the NYC punk and new wave scene such as Iggy Pop, The Ramones and Joan Jett loom large. At it’s best Stein’s work is stark and unsentimental, documenting the people and places he knows well with the sharp eye of an insider.

    Perhaps the most haunting portrait on show is of writer William S Burrows, taken in the late 80’s. Conservatively dressed, arms folded and with head cocked, he radiates defiance and fierce intellect.

    The exhibition also serves to chart the progress of Blondie from their formation in 1974 to the huge international fame a few years later. But while the band travels to Europe and beyond, they remain rooted in New York. A series of city street scenes and urban landscapes show that Stein is as interested in the harsh beauty of the city as the people that populate it.

    There is a high possibility that anybody vaguely acquaintanced with Blondie’s music will rush home to play Parallel Lines on repeat for the rest of the day. And that is no bad thing. But the power of this exhibition is in capturing a time long past but that still has a hand in shaping alternative pop culture hugely today.

    Find out more visit Somerset House

    5 November 2014 – 25 January 2015

    Daily 10.00-18.00 (last entry 17.15)

    Open until 21.00 (last entry 20.15) on Thursdays from 27 November

    24 & 31 December 10.00-16.00, 25 & 26 December-closed, 1 January 12.00-18.00

    East Wing Galleries, East Wing

    Free admission

  • BUTT IS IT ART? Tree is Erected In Paris

    Diana Vreeland the ‘Anna Wintour’ of the 1940’s –1960’s once very archly declared ‘the best thing about London is Paris!’.

    Art lovers would definitely agree with her this week as the French Capital hosts the 40th Edition of The International Contemporary Art Fair (FIAC) which after Art Basel is THE leading exhibition in the World. Based in the Palais Grand and in venues all over the city and for several days it becomes the meeting place between artists, collectors, gallerists, curators, museum directors and stars from the world of international contemporary art.

    We know that Ms Vreeland would thoroughly approve of such a stylish gathering, but we are a little unsure of what she would have thought of American artist Paul McCarthy’s piece called ‘ Tree’ an 80ft inflatable sculpture ‘erected’ in the heart of the Place de Vendome.

    It kind of reminds us of something BUTT we are not quite sure what!

  • Nude Priests In Homoerotic Orthodox Calendar

    Orthodox Calendar is the title of wall calendars and videos first published in 2012, featuring nude and semi-nude photographs of members of the Orthodox Church. The calendar is the brainchild of a group composed mostly of Orthodox eastern Europeans of the former communist region. The primary goal was to create the very first organised global effort against homophobia in the Orthodox Region. At the same time, the calendar takes an ironic approach to the Orthodox Church itself, which in recent years has been embroiled in artist repression, questionable behaviour and homophobia.

    Through their unconventional and bold images, Orthodox Calendar’s creative team seeks to counteract the negative and outdated influences of most of the Orthodox Church leadership. While recognizing that change might not come quickly to the official Orthodox Church position, Orthodox Calendar nonetheless believes that at least it can encourage people to reflect and realise that there is an urgent need for an update in values as part of the modern society.

    Through their unconventional and bold images, Orthodox Calendar’s creative team seeks to counteract the negative and outdated influences of most of the Orthodox Church leadership. While recognizing that change might not come quickly to the official Orthodox Church position, Orthodox Calendar nonetheless believes that at least it can encourage people to reflect and realise that there is an urgent need for an update in values as part of the modern society.

    The first series in 2013, called “For freedom of speech, unity and tolerance” tells the individual story of 12 intensely masculine young men and their guests representing different parts of Eastern Europe. All are open-minded and believe that it is important to be perceived as individuals committed to diversity and acceptance against homophobia who reject contempt and violence. Disrespect for gay human beings weakens thousands of children and adolescents, promotes risk-taking, and increases vulnerability to HIV and those steeped in silence, shame and secrecy.

    The second series in 2014, called “LOVE IS LOVE – ORTHODOX OR NOT!” pays tribute to gay marriage. It’s the story of young gay couples from Eastern Europe sharing a common dream of one day being able to wed their beloved at the altar of their local Orthodox chapel.

    The third series (#OC2015) called “S.A.L.I.G.I.A (Superbia, Avaritia, Luxuria, Invidia, Gula, Ira, Acedia)” pays tribute to social tolerance. The story takes place on the right bank of the Moskva River south of Moscow, where some priests believe that same-sex unions are NOT a sign of the coming apocalypse, contrary to what Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill may claim. These priests set out, in a humorous way, to remind the world that homosexuality is NOT one of the 7 deadly sins and in fact that Jesus Christ never even referred to homosexuality as a sin!

     

    Yet in the words of many in the Orthodox hierarchy, LGBT people have suddenly become the worst kind of sinners – an omen of the impending end of the world. What about wrath, avarice, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony?

     

    Starting today, anyone can discover #OC2015 wall calendar pictures by simply ordering on-line from Amazon or directly from their store at www.orthodox-calendar.com/shop. The price for the classic wall calendar is €18.99 and the explicit version is €34,95. The “Making Of” DVD is priced at €16,99. Check out the Orthodox Calendar on Facebook:www.facebook.com/CalendarOrtodoxAVA and Twitter: @OrthodoxCalenda

     

  • Gay Artists Shane+Adrian To Open Exhibition Inspired By Amy Winehouse

    TODAY contemporary Irish artists Adrian+Shane announce their first London showcase at ‘When I Walk In Your Shoes’ exhibition with pieces inspired by the late singer Amy Winehouse. Opening at London Westbank Gallery from 25th to 30th September, proceeds from inspired artworks sold will go directly to the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

    Hailing from Drogheda in Ireland, Adrian+Shane are two artists who have been working together as one since 1998. They will be making their London debut, following a successful 16 year career showcasing works in Ireland and across the world. Using paint, collage, stencils, photos and video to create colourful pop art, their works are loaded with fresh and well-targeted social commentary.
    Adrian+Shane will proudly be contributing exclusive pieces towards an artistic celebration of Amy Winehouse, along with 20 other artists including Dita Von Teese, Pure Evil and Scroobius Pip, who have been hand-picked and curated by Henry Hate, Amy’s tattooist and friend. The show ‘When I Walk In Your Shoes’ is named after the first verse of Amy Winehouse’s song ‘Help Yourself’ and the catalogue will feature quotes of walking in someone else’s shoes from the exhibiting artists.

    Pieces by Adrian+Shane will include ‘HEART’ constructed from Converse trainers, as well as 3 original and unique paintings inspired by Amy Winehouse entitled ‘PIN UP’, made using acrylic, spray paint and screen print on paper.

    Adrian+Shane commented, “Amy Winehouse is more than a musician; everything from her sound, fashion choices and lifestyle made an impact on an entire generation. Her iconic status makes her the perfect muse for this exhibition and is a wonderful way to raise money for charity in her honour. We’re immensely excited to be a part of this show and can’t imagine a more inspiring way to mark our debut on the London art scene.”

    Following a private viewing on 25th September supported by Converse, ‘When I Walk In Your Shoes’ opens to the general public on Friday 26th September, offering fans the chance to join cutting edge artists in paying tribute to a colourful and unique musical talent in the heart of London. All proceeds raised from the sale of Amy inspired and Converse pieces will go to the Foundation.
    ADRIAN+SHANE will be showcasing pieces in ‘When I Walk In Your Shoes’ open to public from 26th – 30th September 2014 at London Westbank Gallery 133-137 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, London W11 2R.

  • Gay Artist Channels Hate Crime Into New Exhibit

    An artist who was homophobically beaten is set to open an art exhibition in October.

    In 2008 Andrew Salgado and his partner were attacked in a hate crime. Since then his art has become a political catalyst, evolving his vision of masculine identity. His work is so admired he has amassed over 180,000 Facebook fans.

    His latest solo exhibition is called Storytelling and will take place at the Beers Contemporary in East London on the 4th October.

    He has worked actively to raise money through donations to LGBTQ charities such as Terrence Higgins Trust and Diversity Role Models.

    Noted by Saatchi Online as one of “twelve artists to invest in today”, Salgado’s dynamic paintings have earned a Facebook following of over 175,000 fans (and growing daily). Esteemed critic Edward Lucie Smith has lauded him as “a dazzlingly skillful advocate for painting,” and he has received commissions from major retailers such as Harvey Nichols and fashion industry staple Rootstein Display Mannequins. Salgado has also been selected for inclusion in the forthcoming book 100 Painters of Tomorrow, set for publication next month by Thames & Hudson.

    Storytelling [SOLO] – Beers Contemporary. London, UK. October 4 – November 22, 2014.

  • GALLERY: Men Of Tahiti, by Verner Degray

    Noted French photographer Verner Degray shares some intimate photographs of men from Tahiti.

    Verner Degray, 38, born in France, settled ten years ago in Tahiti. Struck by the beauty of the Tahitian boys, he decided to immortalise it on glossy paper, offering artistic nudes of Polynesian men.

    These photos of muscular Tahitians are usually taken in chaotic universes, abandoned hotels, warehouses or garages, to play the contrast between the ugliness of these places and the beauty of the models.

    This photographer is involved in the fight against homophobia and he believes that ‘it is not easy in Tahiti, where religion has a huge influence’. According to him, ‘despite what you may think of this island where you can live in “pareo”, with the myth of the”vahine” here , the nude is “tabu” (Tahitian word by the way…)’ .

    After François Rousseau, Verner Degray was the official photographer for Mister Tahiti 2014 Calendar. He is now making his work known internationally.

     

    To see more of his photography: www.verner-degray.com

    and his making of:

    http://youtu.be/KFWJjmoRa4k

    http://youtu.be/MdE4yQZcAhY

     

  • Artist Recreates Tom Daley Portrait Out Of Homophobic Tweets

    An artist has recreated a portrait of Tom Daley out of homophobic tweets the diver received after he came out in December last year.

    Last December Tom Daley came out via a YouTube video which went viral within minutes of him posting it online, and although the diver mainly received support and praise from the online community, a number of Twitter Trolls did take to the social network to tweet homophobic comments.

    These comments have now been made into a portrait of the Olympic diver, by Conor Collins who has created this stunning picture of Tom.

    Taking to Twitter, the artist has said:

    ‘Still utterly overwhelmed by the reaction to my painting of Tom Daley. Thank you all who thought it good enough to share it!

    ‘Been told there are articles saying ive sold my Tom Daley piece! I’ve not!! Its not my intention to make money from this piece!’

    Even Stephen Fry is a fan, tweeting about the painting.

    Meanwhile Tom Daley’s new show for ITV2 Tom Daley Goes Global is doing good trade for the channel. The next episode is on the 24th and see Tom and Sophie jetting off to New Zealand.

  • Art School Stole My Virginity April Fool’s Hoax?

    Anal virginity art student in April Fool’s Joke?

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  • INTERVIEW | Adi Ness

    Born in Kiryat Gat, and currently living and working in Tel Aviv, Adi Nes is one of Israel’s leading photographers.

    His work has been exhibited widely across Europe and North America and can be found in collections throughout the world. His work has won numerous awards and a print of his 2005 depiction of a group of soldiers, which echoed Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper”, sold for an unprecedented amount, changing the way the world views of Israeli art.

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