Pierre et Gilles: a life in technicolor
Since the mid-1970s Pierre et Gilles have been sharing their wonderfully tacky, brightly colored images with the world. These painted photographs combine camp with religion, burlesque with myth, and humor with sexuality. Though not subtle by any means, the result of their efforts is a dreamlike, yet very accessible, collection of art.
Pierre told Salon.com that the ideas for each piece "come from what we feel for the models and the settings. We photograph people whom we know and love, and certain moments in our life that we'd like to express -- things that we find are beautiful but also potentially cruel."
Now almost 30 years worth of hard work has been collected into a new book, "Pierre et Gilles: Double Je, 1976-2007" [taschen]. This is a complete retrospective that carries the reader from the duo's first meeting in 1976 in Paris to their current work with musicians like CocoRosie and Marilyn Manson. [more]
Our history in pretty pictures
If you are looking for a little light reading this winter season, and love pretty pictures of naked men, you'll want to check out "Man to Man: A History of Gay Photography."
French photographic historian Pierre Borhan has collected an impressive 350 photos to provide an overview of gay intimacy in the 19th and 20th century. From Thomas Eakins to Pierre et Gilles, and George Platt Lynes to Wolfgang Tillmans, the book offers famous and unpublished works to carry the reader through the aesthetic progress of erotic, and sometimes shockingly mundane, gay photography.
With creations from both amateur shutterbugs and artistic masters, Borhan explores how these works affected, and were affected by, notions of societal norms. Co-author Olivier Saillard then leads the reader into the world of fashion, examining homoerotic imagery's influence on layouts in Vogue and the sometimes controversial advertising campaigns of Calvin Klein and others.
Released last month, this could be the Christmas gift for the gay man who has everything.
You're never too old
Mike Soper is not your average senior citizen. At 93, the former Oxford professor has just released his debut novel, "The Heart Entrapped." And he did so after coming out as a gay man but two years earlier.
"When all the old ladies (at the senior's home) heard about the book, they asked if they could read it. So I had to tell them I was gay and that it was a gay-themed novel," he told the Oxford Mail.
The novel follows the life of Mark Harper, "a young man doing well in his first year at college." However, he's in love with "another man - in an age when same-sex relationships are not generally accepted - and life is about to deliver the cruelest of blows."
Mr. Soper hopes his novel will offer another perspective on relationships for a community so often associated with indiscriminate sexual encounters. "My novel looks at a different aspect, at gay men who are in loving, long term relationships."
See, men, it is never too late to make your dreams come true!
Howling at the FCC
...with dreams, with drugs, with waking nightmares, al-
cohol and cock and endless balls...
...who let themselves be fucked in the ass by saintly
motorcyclists, and screamed with joy,
who blew and were blown by those human seraphim,
the sailors, caresses of Atlantic and Caribbean
love...
On March 25, 1957, US customs officials seized 520 copies of the poem that contained the above lines. Considered obscene for the time, with descriptions of sexuality and drug use, the officials would not permit Allen Ginsberg's "Howl" to be imported from a printer in London.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the co-founder of City Lights Booksellers, was tried on obscenity charges as the book's domestic publisher. With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and nine literary agents who spoke in support of the work, San Francisco Municipal Judge Clayton Horn was convinced that the poem had "redeeming social importance" and was therefore not indecent.
Yet the poem's content is still strong enough to make broadcasters nervous...
Russia nixes "shameful" art
Russia's culture minister, Alexander Sokolov, fancies himself a bit of an art critic. And in a country growing increasingly intolerant of free speech, it comes as no surprise that he has prohibited 16 images from appearing at the Maison Rouge in Paris. The exhibit is a collection of contemporary Russian artwork, but Sokolov does not want anything shown that could possibly embarrass his country.
Images seized before they could leave Russian jurisdiction include two police officers kissing, and a series depicting prominent world figures - Putin, Bush and bin Laden -- playing around on a couch in their undies.
Sokolov claimed that "if this exhibition appears it will bring shame on Russia. In this case, all of us will bear full responsibility. It is inadmissible...to take all this pornography, kissing policemen and erotic pictures to Paris."
The Blue Noses, the art group responsible for some of the banned imagery, sees this as a big step backwards for Russia. "The state is beginning to administer culture in the same way it did under Khrushchev."
Sokolov needs to watch a some cable TV if he thinks these images are offensive...
What a talented prick!
Who knew playing with yourself could unleash an artistic dynamo? Tim Patch added a dab of paint to his favorite tool, his penis, and discovered he could create saleable works of art. No, he doesn't just make impressions with his cock. Nor does he create abstract images of colored blotches. He actually paints portraits with his dick.
"I dip it in the paint and then apply it to the canvas," says the 56-year-old Australian who goes by the stage name Pricasso. "I began doing it at a party around Christmas time. Now I videotape all my work, because sometimes people don't believe me."
His family isn't quite sure about his new job. "My dad is not too impressed. He shook his head and said: "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear"."
Why does he do it? "I feel the very roots of my creativity stirring rising up merging with the subjects inner beauty climaxing in uncontrollable waves of divine euphoria and my loins I create PENILE ART." Well, that explains all the white spots. [more]
Italy vs Helsinki: the music video
When we first saw this video we weren't quite sure what to make of it. Part love song, part campy video, part blasphemy (you'll see what we mean), it was written by Finn-Swedish band, Laakso. The lead singers are cute, and we're pretty sure they're singing to each other.
The premise: two lovers are planning a vacation but cannot agree on whether to go to Italy or Helsinki. They end up in heaven. Huh?
Since english is not their first language, some of the phrases sound a little forced. Still, the song is catchy. We hope you enjoy...
Glen Mitchell's body beautiful
BG Exclusive interview!
If there's one thing we know, it's hot men! So it's no surprise we were drawn to the art of Glen Mitchell. Each image is a celebration of the male form, whether the men are handsome and well built, or larger, older, bear types. As his bio points out, Mitchell draws "from a background in the arts, including dance, painting, and design," allowing him to create "sensual images with his signature use of traditional black and white photography, minimalism and masterful lighting techniques."
We're sold! Find out more about this talented artist after the jump...
A surge of Testosterone
BG Exclusive interview!
From model, to fashion editor, to photographer, Joe Oppedisano has a unique understanding of the camera. This allows him to create some pretty impressive images of hot men, a powerful transexual, and -- don't be afraid -- beautiful women.
You won't find many pretty boy twinks in his collection. Joe opts for what he considers to be real men. After checking out his photographs, that suits us just fine...
Oh, snap!
The Erotic Review wants to see what you've got! Next month they will be launching an international photo competition for the best in erotic imagery. The grand prize: a whopping £1,000.
The competition is open to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation. "We do not intend to censor, categorize or theme 'erotica'. This is simply a search for exceptional erotic imagery. We have placed only a few restrictions for photographs suitable for the Erotic Photography Award and that it must represent sexuality of a single person or between consenting adults."
Images that reference minors or animals are strictly prohibited. "Otherwise we want to encourage imagery expressing all aspects of sexuality and subject matter, heterosexual, gay and lesbian, transsexual, fetish and other alternative lifestyles."
There is an entry fee of £25 -- which sucks -- but this will allow you to submit up to 12 images for the competition.
For the record, we think they may be looking for something other than that blurry shot of your cock on the keyboard you keep sending us at gay.com! The one of your penis hanging out of your jeans might be a better choice.
French gods!
Since 2001, gay men around the world have eagerly awaited the newest release of the Dieux du Stade calendar. Featuring hot men from the Stade Français, a French professional rugby club in Paris, the calendar -- and the 'making of' DVD -- offers a glimpse of buff French athletes in little to no clothing. Less fattening than a croissant, it is one of our favorite imports from France.
Although part of the proceeds from the calendars go to charity, they were initially designed as an ingenious marketing ploy by Max Guazzini, President of the rugby club. He hoped to increase the popularity of the sport by attracting a new audience, such as women, to the game.
We'd certainly watch, but they'd have to play naked...
Bush's porn pic problems
A word of advice: don't go pissing off British artists.
It looks like the US Government had to learn this the hard way after Jonathan Yeo, of the UK, was denied a commission to paint a portrait of President Bush. Undeterred, the 36-year-old artist decided to create his own interpretation of the American leader. And instead of paint, he used the next most obvious medium -- porn magazine clippings.
"I did it for fun," he told the Metro. "I was mildly irritated after the commission was canceled and just went with this idea which initially I thought would not end up in a gallery. ... I suppose it was a bit of amusement for myself, poking fun at this unpopular man."
Of course, high gloss, air brushed images could not be used....
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