Tom of Finland is making its mark on Amsterdam this summer
Good things come in pairs!
Mark
Of all the LGBTQ+ artists to have paved the way for modern queer representation, few have touched the evocativeness, provocativeness, and timelessness of Tom of Finland.
The Finnish artist, whose real name was Touko Laaksonen, was inspired by muscles, sexy city types, uniformed men, and his cruising experiences. His “dirty drawings” took off in the ’50s, but it wasn’t until the late ’70s that his sensual work began to receive the cultural and artistic appreciation it deserved. (“I work very hard to make sure that the men I draw having sex are proud men having happy sex,” he once famously said. LOL.)
In the years since his passing in 1991, Tom, as he affectionally became known, and his art have come to represent both LGBTQ+ history and the beauty of its sexuality — so its presence in Amsterdam for WorldPride this year is especially fitting.
At the biggest queer gathering of the year, the Tom of Finland Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the proliferation of Tom’s art, is presenting not one, but two fabulous exhibits.
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Because, you know, good things come in pairs!
Fecund Ground
When it comes to thought-provoking and contemporary pieces, raam art space is the place to go in Amsterdam, which makes their collaboration with Tom of Finland on this queer group exhibition a can’t-miss experience.
Here, the ToF Foundation’s longstanding history of supporting othe LGBTQ+ artists gets the spotlight, with pieces from its Los Angeles archive and past members of its residency program, as well as a choice selection of Dutch creatives.
Featuring a mix of painting, sculptures, textiles, and installations, expect to see art that examines “both the fragility and the persistence and resilience” of the queer community, a beautiful nod to WorldPride’s unity theme.
“Fecund Ground” is open until August 9, with viewing hours 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays, and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
Icons of Desire
The groundbreaking history of Tom of Finland’s drawings is at the heart of “Icons of Desire” at Galerie de Schans with an exhibition focused on “queer desire, fetish culture, and sexual freedom” and “cultural emancipation,” comprised of both new works and original drawings from the RoB of Amsterdam collection.
It’s full circle for both Tom of Finland and Robert Meijer, whose RoB Gallery was pivotal in the rise of the popularity, as well as the cultural acceptance, of male erotic art, dating back to the ’70s until its closure in the ’90s, when its very existence was taboo.
Most notably, the exhibition features works that have not been shown in Amsterdam (or anywhere else in the Netherlands) for decades. According to curators, the breathtaking collection aims “to introduce a new generation of visitors” to “engage with the artistic, historical, and social significance of erotic art.”
“Icons of Desire” runs until August 15, open daily from noon to 7 p.m., with free admission.
Related
A mini-guide to Amsterdam ahead of WorldPride
Pride Month is winding down stateside, but across the pond, they’re just getting started!
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