Homotopia and gaydar.co.uk present
Tom Of Finland 08
Major Retrospective
20th September - 30th November
The Crypt, Contemporary Urban Centre,
Greenland St (Off Upper Parliament St), L1
Tuesday – Sunday 10am until 5pm Free
Info 0151 233 6753 or 0151 708 3510
This exhibition is a major retrospective (1944-1989) of 60 works on paper
by legendary gay artist Tom of Finland including 25 of the artists most
iconic works each one representing one of the twenty five years his foundation
has been at the helm of preserving , protecting and promoting the erotic
arts.
Touko Laaksonen, aka “Tom,” was born in Finland in 1920. His
first commercial gig was drawing half-naked men for Physique Pictorial,
a 1950s homosexual ‘fanzine’ disguised as a straight men’s
magazine.
From the perspective of art historians, Tom had an effect on global culture
unmatched by that of virtually any other artist. First seen in commercial
settings such as magazine illustration, posters and advertising, his work
had a defining impact on the way gay men were perceived and more importantly,
how they perceived themselves. Tom had a profound influence on gay culture
because he was the first to connect words everyone assumed were oxymorons:
Masculinity and homosexuality. In a world that insisted gay men were sissies,
Tom did the unthinkable, portraying them as confident, macho and assertive.
Tom’s oeuvre has, therefore, had a ripple effect throughout gay and
straight culture during the last 40 years, influencing lifestyle, political
tolerance, design, fashion and art to popular culture.
On loan from The Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection
www.tomoffinlandfoundation.org dedicated to preserving , protecting and
promoting the erotic arts.
In partnership with Nice 08 & Independents 08 Liverpool Biennial
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