Explore the inspiration and origins of Leisure Projects x Tom of Finland

24th August 2022, 6:20 pm

 

Tom of Finland x Leisure Projects capsule collection

 

Anyone in the art world knows the name Tom of Finland quite well, having worked with world-class brands this year such as Diesel and JW Anderson. Most recently, Thai fashion label Leisure Projects, founded by Nat Kanokvaleewong, got its chance with the pride of the fashion industry. Today GQ Thailand had the opportunity to talk with Kanokvaleewong, beginning with the earliest inspiration up to the final realization of the Leisure Projects x Tom of Finland collection.

GQ Thailand: I want you to briefly tell us, for those who don’t know, who is Tom of Finland.

Nat Kanokvaleewong: Tom of Finland was an illustrator who began by creating various advertising images. In his spare time, he mainly drew men. The name Tom of Finland originated from when he first sent his drawings to magazines in America. But with a Finnish name hard to read by American audiences, the editor of the magazine suggested the moniker Tom of Finland.

In Thailand, the name Tom of Finland may not be very well known. But I think 90% of the time if I see his artwork, I will immediately gasp because it’s very unique to depict an erotic drawing of a man by an artist born only a few years after World War I ended. In that era, the visibility of Gay men wasn’t as accepted as  it is today. He set new norms of Gay life through his works. Because many people in that era may have believed that being Gay was something to be ashamed of. But what he did was the opposite. He portrayed muscular men celebrating their Queerness and challenging the stereotype of Gay men in that era made his work revolutionary.

GQ: That means highly-erotic male and female images. That’s the charm of the Tom of Finland.

NK: Yes, and I think one of his charms is the courage to do something unique. He is an inspiration to so many. Even though his work is very explicit, he never missed an opportunity to portray the happiness of those people and make everyone proud to be Gay. He has helped move society so that Gay men don’t have to hide anymore, and by reinforcing that Gay life is not wrong.

READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY CHARLOMPON THANGSIRISAKUL

 

 

 

 

 

 


Inspired by Tom

  This special portrait series was created at TOM House by Oat Montien, the first Thai artist to be an-artist-in residence at Tom of Finland Foundation, will be displayed in this exhibition. These artworks were inspired by Tom’s delicate fine-lined drawing highlighting the masculinity of Thai models and elements in The Sailor.
LP OAT 500

Published: 24th August 2022

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