“Reality & Fantasy: The World of Tom of Finland”

Date/Time
Date(s) - 20th Nov 2020 - 7th Dec 2020
All Day

Location
Shinsaibashi PARCO

Categories

• Exhibitions - TOM
• Supporter - World

VENUE

Presented by Finnish Institute Japan, Embassy of Finland in Japan,
Tom of Finland Foundation, The Container, and Parco

TOM OF FINLAND , Untitled, 1963, Graphite on paper, 12.44” x 9.38”, Tom of Finland Foundation Permanent Collection, © 1963-2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

Curated by Shai Ohayon

The exhibition features a selection of 30 historical works, ranging from 1946 to 1989, covering the artist’s entire professional career, and highlighting both his artistic versatility and presenting his identity as an LGBTQ legend who paved the way for LGBTQ rights worldwide and helped to shape gay culture.

Reality & Fantasy 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.

Published: 20th November 2020

Categorised in: Exhibitions - TOM, Supporter - World