“Reality&Fantasy The World of Tom of芬兰”由1946年至1989年间创作的30件作品组成,涵盖Tom of芬兰的整个职业生涯,同时关注他的丰富才能,同时也介绍了LGBTQ权利在全球范围内推动并成为同性恋文化创造期的LGBTQ传奇人物。
通过用石墨、瓜什、标记、钢笔、墨水等多种方法制作的和平和可以说是他活动的里程碑的和平,可以看到他艺术风格的发展。Tom的名字一跃成名的契机是《Physique Pictorial》杂志封面上的两幅绘图《无题》(AGM《Men of the Forests of芬兰》,1957年),《无题》(从AGM《Motorcycle Thief》系列开始,1964年)等,在杂志上刊登的绘图也有很多。
该展览还专注于Tom of芬兰所肩负的游戏文化,以及对自由人本来自由的作用。Tom面临着同性恋人们努力改变的法律和社会的严峻现实(现实),但通过将男性的身体描绘成感性和色情,促进了社会的转变和同性恋人们的接受。随着性的解放,Tom在追求幻想世界的同时,通过描绘全新的“同性恋男子气概”,消除了当时社会强加于同性恋男子的形象。这是日本首次举办促进自由和社会宽容的历史作家Tom of芬兰期待已久的个人展。
Reality & Fantasy The World of Tom of Finland, brings together a selection of works, covering the artist’s entire four decades of career, and presents works on paper using a variety of mediums, such as graphite, gouache, markers, and pen & ink. Historically, the images highlight milestones and artistic stylistic developments in Tom’s life and practice—starting with his 1940s and '50s paintings in gouache, of men in stylish attire and uniforms, such as sailors, soldiers and policemen, in fantastic and romantic compositions, influenced by his army service in Finland—to his stylized depictions of leathermen and muscle men in the ’60s and ’70s, and the cleaner, high contrast and graphic drawings of his later career when he was working in Los Angeles.
The exhibition also features many works commissioned by the Athletic Model Guild (AMG), founded and headed by Bob Mizer in 1945. Tom and Bob had a long-time professional relationship. It was Bob that added "of Finland" to Tom's name as was the fashion of the day. Reality and Fantasy, includes a number of drawings that appeared in AMG's magazine Physique Pictorial, including two drawings that appeared on the cover of the magazine (Untitled, from the AGM “Men of the Forests of Finland” series, 1957; and Untitled, from the AGM “Motorcycle Thief" series, 1964.)
The exhibition puts emphasis on Tom of Finland’s role in promoting sensual and erotic depictions of the male body as a catalyst for social change and the acceptance of gay people, while facing a legal and social reality they were fighting to change. Delving into a world of fantasy, with sexual freedom, Tom depicted a new “gay masculinity”, adding to the vocabulary of what gay men were allowed to be by society.
The exhibition, at GALLERY X, is the fruits of a collaboration between the Finnish Institute Japan, the Embassy of Finland in Japan, the Tom of Finland Foundation, The Container gallery, and PARCO. The exhibition is curated by the Tokyo-based curator and director of The Container, Mr. Shai Ohayon. The exhibition was designed to coincide with Tom’s 100th birthday anniversary - #TOMs100.
