Six things to know about London’s Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival

TOM OF FINLAND Untitled, 1961

Durk Dehner, cofounder of Tom of Finland Foundation, explains why this year’s festival is the most important yet

For the second year, Tom of Finland Foundation — cofounded by the late legend of erotic art Tom of Finland and his friend Durk Dehner in 1984 — is bringing its annual Art & Culture Festival to London.

With the sole intention of championing the joy of Queer erotic art and artists, it is set to bring together artists to exhibit and sell their work, alongside a series of talks which will run Saturday 22nd July-Sunday 23rd July. Oh, and they’ll be a blow-out opening fetish party at Electrowerkz on Friday night, naturally. Expect plenty of Tom of Finland’s signature leather strapped, swollen men, plus some food for thought. Here, Dehner explains everything you need to know ahead of the weekend.

Prepare to meet top erotic artists and buy their work at the Festival

“This year’s festival showcases artists including Martin Perry, Rick Castro, James Dearlove, Felipe Chavez and Ed Firth. When you come to festivals, let your guard down and experience things, you can discover the beauty of life. The collecting of art is the most rewarding hobby I’ve ever experienced.”

It is crucial as ever to celebrate Queer artists

“We’re not in the most enlightened times. It’s important for us to go and touch as many bases as possible and extend our locations, which also includes Los Angeles and Berlin. We can’t allow the fringes of society to suppress the expression of our children, it’s ridiculous. We have to defend them, they are the innocents.”

SEE THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY JOE BROMLEY

Published: 19th July 2023

Categorised in: Events, News