Homotopia

The Homotopia queer arts and culture festival has been successfully running for the last 8 years under the creative direction of enthusiastic visionary Gary Everett , who presents, during a month of diverse programming , an exciting array of art exhibitions, theatre, dance, films , seminars, and dress up events.

Martin Green travelled up for the weekend of the 11th November as a guest of exhibitions curator James Lawler ‘Pin -Ups’ exhibition of portraits by Sadie Lee and Matthew Stradling.

The exhibition is presented in a large loft gallery, part of an industrial area on the outskirts of the city centre; the roughness of the location adds an extra drama to the strength of the work inside.

Matthew Stradling’s latest work is the first to be seen as we enter the room; three large canvases of a naked tattooed man dominate the space. Sprawled out on a crumpled mass of red velvet, an almost photographic depiction of gay icon Darren Lloyd stares out at us, proud of his muscled masculinity, handsome rugged face and large cock, he is hiding nothing, a proud pin up, an unashamed icon of homosexual lust and he loves every minute of it. On the opposite wall, in sharp contrast, eleven small paintings of battered blood soaked faces look out, like heroes on the edge of collapse, these are intimate portraits of big powerful boxers, all of whom are about to lose their bouts, the pain and determination can be clearly seen on these sweaty claret red faces, the intense use of rich colour, accentuates the strident sexuality, strength and vulnerability of these subjects.

Sadie lee has chosen to paint six very different sitters, male and female, including actress Rita Tushingham, artist David Hoyle, and fellow painter Matthew Stradling. She uses she same size canvases, lighting, perspective and pose, to create a rogues gallery of dangerously powerful characters. The stark lighting glares at them, as if captured inside a police interrogation room, they may seem somewhat slightly frightened, but, as they are an uncompromising gang, they stare back at us through their deep black eyeliner. They are determined not to squeal, their red painted lips are sealed. Unlike Stradling’s boxers, they are not going to be beaten. We constantly try to the read the secrets hidden between the lines of these beautifully painted faces, but are greeted with an unflinchingly aloof bravado. They are fascinating, intimidating and demand further questioning.