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Blow Me: Poems for Posters on a Wall is a poetry zine meant to celebrate the experience of gay arousal through on-screen fiction, from cinema to television. Back in 1999, the shameless debauchery of Cruel Intentions sparked a generation’s sexual awakening. As one of those 1990s kids, I watched Roger Kumble’s first feature film in secret, away from my parents’ prying eyes, and the character of Sebastian Valmont — portrayed by Ryan Phillippe — sparked a much unexepected sexual awakening within me.
After a long journey of self-acceptance, I am now able to honour that moment of gay arousal with the boldness it should have filled me up with from the start. Sebastian’s sensuality inspired me to write numerous poems, as well as create artwork. The concept of sexual awakening and its celebration as a turning point in acknowledging one’s queerness has become the central topic in my work. I believe the complexity of it comes from the fact that, although you rarely know what it is when it happens, you usually carry the memory of that moment with you forever.
After a long journey of self-acceptance, I am now able to honour that moment of gay arousal with the boldness it should have filled me up with from the start. Sebastian’s sensuality inspired me to write numerous poems, as well as create artwork. The concept of sexual awakening and its celebration as a turning point in acknowledging one’s queerness has become the central topic in my work. I believe the complexity of it comes from the fact that, although you rarely know what it is when it happens, you usually carry the memory of that moment with you forever.
Inspired by the Queer-zine aesthetic from the late XXth century, this printed thirst trap juxtaposes photomontages using screen grabs from Cruel Intentions with a series of original poems, odes to the at-the-time unvoiced feelings and desires of a closeted teenager. Unspoken conversations with portraits of sexy male superstars on teen-magazine posters on a boy’s bedroom walls can at last emerge from the vortex of time into a lust-full, unapologetic printed-world of gay extravaganza.
As Cruel Intentions celebrates its 25th anniversary, I am honoured to share some words about how this witty, utterly-camp production helped me discover myself in a most significant way. Sexual awakenings are truly unforgettable, and much as we’ve come a long way in the matter of Queer on-screen representation, Kumble’s feature remains to date a delightful reminder of how one should cherish the exploration of their sexuality.
As Cruel Intentions celebrates its 25th anniversary, I am honoured to share some words about how this witty, utterly-camp production helped me discover myself in a most significant way. Sexual awakenings are truly unforgettable, and much as we’ve come a long way in the matter of Queer on-screen representation, Kumble’s feature remains to date a delightful reminder of how one should cherish the exploration of their sexuality.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT
ALL ARTWORKS ARE ORIGINAL CREATIONS.
© 2024 JOÃO DELFIM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ALL ARTWORKS ARE ORIGINAL CREATIONS.
© 2024 JOÃO DELFIM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.