The exhibition is an opportunity for artists and writers to showcase their work and receive recognition for it. As an editor at Splash, I've worked closely with several museums to curate these shows. Our latest project with the Museum of Sex was a huge success! We collaborated with them to create a series of erotic photographs that explore different aspects of human sexuality. Each photo was taken by a different artist and features models who identify as LGBTQIA+ or people of color. It was amazing seeing how our photos were received by audiences from all walks of life. The exhibit has been very well-received so far. People have come from all over the country to see it! And the response from critics has been fantastic too - they say this is some of the best erotic art they've ever seen.
It was incredible to watch everything come together. The curators had specific ideas about what they wanted out of the exhibit, but it was up to us to make sure those ideas translated into something visually stunning. We spent weeks working on conceptualizing each image before actually taking any photos. Once we had a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve, we went out and found models who fit the bill perfectly. From there, it was just a matter of capturing those moments in time and putting them on display.
There are so many reasons why this collaboration was such a success. First off, it legitimized erotic art in institutional spaces like museums and galleries. Traditionally, museums haven't been known for showcasing work like this because it's often considered "taboo." But now that more people understand the power behind this kind of artwork, it makes sense to put it on display where everyone can see it! Secondly, bringing together academia and curation with erotic publishing creates an exciting new way to engage with the public. Museum goers get to learn about different aspects of human sexuality while also enjoying beautiful photography at the same time. Finally, seeing these images side by side made me realize how much potential there is when you combine two seemingly disparate fields together. It's truly inspiring! If you have any questions or comments about our experience curating this exhibition together, let me know below - I'd love to chat more about it!