THE CRITICAL EYE BY PHIL TARLEY
HE: QUESTIONING AND QUEERING “MASCULINITY”
Last projects is proud to present He: Questioning and Queering “Masculinity.” The show will run from March 31 through May 12, 2017. An Opening Night Reception will be held on March 31, 2017 from 6:30 -10:30 pm at Last Projects, 206 South Ave. 20 Los Angeles, C.A 90031.
Once in a while a really wonderful queer art show hits Los Angles. HE portends brilliant, bold and indelibly queer. Filled chockablock with some of the best world class art, made by killer, international, fiercely queer artists. Curated by Robert Summers and Stiofan O’Ceallaigh, the exhibition takes the pulse of the edgy in contemporary queer artwork.
This exhibition explores contemporary trans*, gay, and queer artists who, as the curators see their work, question and/or queer “masculinity” In the works presented, the male subject is represented in ways that undermine or ignore the dominant ideal and performance of the “masculine,” male subject, and in this way, HE is un-done.
This questioning of “masculinity” has been going on for decades—first through feminism, then LGBT studies, and finally to queer theory and queer feminism, which has been called a “crisis of masculinity.” Such arguments have allowed for the emergence of other forms of “masculinity.” But, as of late, there has been the reawakening of what can be called “toxic masculinities,” which can be seen in the rise of Trumpism, Brexit, and a more global return to so-called “traditional values”—which simultaneously is surfacing altogether other forms of queer activism and visual culture that are at odds with the re-embracing of dominant “masculinity.” These artists congeal around the RESIST movement.
With the inauguration and implementation of the Trump administration, artists are looking more inwards at renewed revolutionary, European ideals such as liberty, equality, and justice. America is no longer the center in this global era and HE reflects this by showcasing works by international artists such Matt Lambert, Gio Black Peter, Florian Hetz, Patrick Church, Matthias Herrmann, Abel Azcona and Slava Mogutin.
Opening night promises include VIP Guests Cazwell and Amanda Lepore free art goodies and a whole lot more. This is my personal pick for one of the best queer shows of the year.
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