The exhibition consists of photographic portraits which served as reference images for his famed homoerotic drawings
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth, Fotografiska, in collaboration with Tom of Finland Foundation, has produced The Darkroom, an exciting study in artist Tom of Finland’s (born Touko Laaksonen, 1920 – 1991) life and work process.
These photographs were confined to Tom of Finland’s home studio and darkroom, displaying them elsewhere would have risked a prison sentence.
The exhibition, curated by Berndt Arell, travels from Stockholm to New York in time for Tom of Finland’s 101st birthday.
The exhibition consists of photographic portraits which served as reference images for his famed homoerotic drawings. These photographs were confined to Tom of Finland’s home studio and darkroom, displaying them elsewhere would have risked a prison sentence, as homosexuality was criminalized and classified as a mental disorder in his native Finland at the time of this work. Even after a century of Tom of Finland’s birth, there are forces today trying to relegate homosexual desire into dark closets.
The exhibit runs through August 20, 2021.
For more info visit www.fotografiska.com/nyc/exhibition/the-darkroom/
