SEXPOSITIVE HOMEWEAR by Carne Bollente

Paris based brand Carne Bollente presents new sexpositive homewear to light up our winter. #sexpositivity
www.instagram.com/carnebollente

REY Stories reimagined by Marco Kowalewski

Visual artist and illustrator Marco Kowalewski combined his favourite moments from our latest editorials and he recreated his own Pride Story.

Berlin: Solo exhibition of KOYWE Kollage

Works by KOYWE KOLLAGE will be shown in a first solo exhibition titled “The journey before the beginning”. From October 22nd to 25th the artist Hans Möller Rojas will be presenting over 20 pieces in Berlin-Kreuzberg at Project Hype.

About KOYWE KOLLAGE:
Hans Möller Rojas created his first works more than six years ago and started showcasing his pieces to the public under the alias KOYWE KOLLAGE as of three years ago. His technique has developed radically since then. Today he can be counted among the most exciting artists in the field of collages. The small-scale, elaborately hand-cut and assembled compositions show organic shapes, shimmering colours and reveal – after a deeper examination by the viewer – topics such as sex and queerness.
www.koywekollage.com // www.instagram.com/koywekollage


source: kaltblut.

House of Illustration will open the UK’s first public solo show dedicated to artist Tom of Finland

This year House of Illustration will open the UK’s first public solo show dedicated to gay cultural icon and prolific artist Tom of Finland (born Touko Laaksonen), in partnership with Tom of Finland Foundation and the Finnish Institute in London.

This timely exhibition, on the centenary of his birth, will celebrate the artist whose homoerotic visions had a profound effect on gay communities in Europe and North America during a pivotal period in their history and continue to have an immeasurable influence on popular culture today. Tom of Finland: Love and Liberation will display 40 works on paper produced from the 1960s to the 1980s, both before and after homosexuality was decriminalised in much of Europe and the U.S.

It will include early drawings of men fighting that constituted the only legal way to show physical contact between men before decriminalisation, as well as illustrations from his iconic Kake comics and rare linocuts produced in very limited editions.

The exhibitiion wil be on from the 6th of March until late June.

Book your ticket online

AFTERGLOW is back in London's Waterloo East Theatre

After its sold-out run at Southwark Playhouse, AFTERGLOW transfers to Waterloo East Theatre, London with a brand new cast.

Josh and Alex are in an open married relationship. But after young Darius shares their bed for a night, a new intimate connection begins to form, and all three men must search for one another’s notions of love, intimacy, and commitment. Will their search for passion and intimacy come as easily as their freedom to play around?

Afterglow is a ‘steamy stripped-down look at gay intimacy’ (Huffington Post).

Recommended age 16+. This show contains strong language and nudity.

The play runs for a limited season. For more info and tickets check HERE

source: afterglow.co.uk

BOYS WITH FEELINGS

HIS HANDS Short Film: a powerful erotic thriller

Directed by Arron Blake and Darius Shu, “HIS HANDS” comes to break your silence and speak to your soul.

Arron Blake also stars in the film and he plays an unnamed younger man who visits the flat of an older man, played by Philip Briseboise; the door to the flat resembles the bars of a prison cell, and Blake touching on the loud buzzer breaks the eerie silence. The action exclusively takes place within this darkened interior, which feels like a strange, disquieting bubble separate to the daytime cityscape outside.

An atmospheric psychological thriller which last as long as your tea break (13 minutes) but brings out themes of acceptance, loneliness and both gender and sexual identity; very important topics for the LGBTQ+ and the humanity in general.

After the thriumph in London in 2018, the film is set to premiere this April in Tribeca Film Festival and we can’t wait to see it screening in Europe.

‘‘HIS HANDS’’ has already won awards at the Oniros Film Awards and been screened at Perth’s International Queer Film Festival and The Lowry ahead of a wider release later this year.



The world of Ali Franco: Exclusive Interview and Presentation

Eastern European ( originally from Ukraine) but based in Portugal, Ali Franco is a unique artist and painter.

"Lover of the erotic themes of the homosexual world, he represents a combination of concepts and taboos and gives us glimpses of bourgeois porn in candy covers, where Harmony novel atmospheres act as a setting for disturbing sexual acts among wrestlers of ancient Greece."

-Tell us a bit more about you and your art.

I was born within an artistic family, my parents have art education and my father always worked in museums and theaters, decorating rooms and the stage.

I loved so much to be in a backstage room, to see the actors preparing for showsand the busy atmosphere. I loved costumes around me and the makeup smell, it was like magic in the air.

Something else that stayed in my mind as a strong memory is the Apollo mask on the wall of my room. I was drawing him very often. Years later I was in love with the movies of Fellini Satyricon and Casanova. I guess all of these things had influence on me.

But I thought there is something I can't find and I want to see it...

I was looking for that something in books, magazines, internet and finally decided to create something by myself: homoerotic illustrations with the atmosphere I love: theater, Greek, French, Italian culture.

-How did you decide to follow and develop that section of art?

My first work pieces were not openly homoerotic actually. But people said “they look like gays, why do you do it? The guys you paint, look too feminine, it's so weird.” I guess I confused people around with my works.

I heard from them “it might be better to do normal things, because nobody needs paintings like yours”.

And I made a big break with my own artworks. I closed up and I was working just for requests, painting mostly portraits, landscapes, book and game illustrations.

But I believe it was a good experience in my life, that gave me new skill level and requirements. As a final point now they love what I create.

-Describe your art in three words.

Three main words are always with me when I'm painting - Passion, Beauty, Love.

-Where do you find inspiration? Books or paintings? Do you organise a set with live models as well?

I can say I'm more illustrator than a painter. I create a composition in my head and later I look for models. Sometimes my friends help me with this, sometimes I use photos… everything can be good in this case.

-How is fashion related to your work?

Talking about fashion, it's funny - as a teenager I wanted to be a fashion designer, to create interesting clothes, but at the same time I always thought - “it will be something out of fashion because it's too weird or complicated.”

I hope in future to use more clothes and hairstyle ideas in my artworks, maybe even to create some alternative or even a surreal world.

I like what is going on with fashion today - looks like we are very close to freedom, people can be creative and feel free to express themselves.

I'm really glad about it!

-Where can someone find your art and actually buy his favourite painting?

Two years ago I started to post my works on Instagram and didn't expected for a lot of followers, if to be honest. So I really appreciate all people who like my works! And I'm glad that people buy my paintings or art prints.

At the moment I have Etsy page for this (https://www.etsy.com/shop/AFstore) and also you can find some of my works in Filippo Ioco Studio and Gallery in Barcelona (http://www.iocostudiogallery.com).

-What are your next plans? Are planning any exhibition soon ?

I have so many plans - first to continue create new illustrations sure.

I hope to publish few books with sketches and color illustrations. Also to take a part in art exhibitions and to make a solo exhibition in two years.

Follow Ali Franco on INSTAGRAM