LOVE MY WAY
Hyéres, France. April 2019.
For the 34th International Festival of Fashion, Photography & Fashion Accessories in Hyéres France, I was asked by the creative director of the famous Villa Noailles, Jean-Pierre Blanc, to be a part of a special group exhibition of contemporary art focusing on queer male art entitled LOVE MY WAY and show my work alongside artists like Jean Cocteau, David Hockney, Slava Mogutin, Gio Black Peter and Pierre et Gilles. In addition, I was also invited to come to Hyéres and create a series of custom murals on mirrored walls and various windows of the Villa Romaine, a gorgeous and eccentric 19th century villa that was the hosting venue of the exhibition, and, perform live drawing and body-painting at the exhibition’s grand opening. Below are some images of the murals I made in the week leading up to the opening, and photos from my art performance.
reversed paintied 2nd floor window sign as seen from outside.
Adorning a mirrored gate opening into a sassy garden of earthly delights at the Villa Romaine, I chose to depict two national symbols of freedom; France’s Marianne on the left, the US’ State of Liberty on the right, Considering this exhibition openly celebrates an exhuberantly queer expression of sexuality, I wanted visitors to be welcomed by these national topless icons of liberty, reason, and personal sovereignty. I certianly made use of my own artistic freedom to portray ‘Lady’ Liberty as a man, or perhaps better, a transgender man. I rendered both portraits in a bright how yellow, a sunny color of illumination, positivity, and enlightenment. Liberté, Égalité, Homosexualité
