The artists participating in the exhibition seeks to expand the conventional understanding of masculinity, by deconstructing history as well as defining the modern man. Spanish artist Naro Pinosa mixes familiar portraits from the canons of art history with modern “ideals of beauty” and raises questions about the changing values of masculinity. In Spain, performer and musician Alvaro Solahas set out to reform flamenco and copla, in which strict gender roles have applied. Ivan Dumont’s photographs of Alvaro Sola document the effort to raise questions about equality and to modernise both the visuals and music of flamenco.
New York-based artist David Williams approaches masculinity through the discriminatory term “cat lady” and portrays cat uncles, i.e. men who do not consider the great love of cats to be an unmanly quality. Arne Svenson, also from New York, examines the visual characteristics that distinguish straight men from homosexuals. On the other hand, ValdekLaur seeks to determine what masculinity is and what all the males who don’t fit the ideal of masculinity should do?
Participating artists: Valdek Laur, Naro Pinosa, Alvaro Sola & Ivan Dumont, Arne Svenson, David Williams and RASI +.
The curator of the exhibition is Jan Leo Grau.
The exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the city of Pärnu .
Art project “Pärnu-Tartu Art Express” is part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 additional programme.
