Kyla (after Warhol), print by Steve Starr

Description

The Homosapiens series pursues an interrogation of the human body as a ‘site’ of intimacy. Starr’s works revisit the Sexual Revolution of the 1970s, 80s and 90s that critiqued gender roles, gender politics and gender stereotyping.

This interrogation is timely because the cultural and attitudinal backslide into deeply entrenched conservatism has occurred over the last two decades. This has manifested a ‘toxic gaze’ of poisonous judgment and criticism of people’s appearance and behaviour.
The series draws upon the Sexual Revolution, the LGBTQI Rights movement and the ‘pro-sex’ feminists of the early 1980s, their staunch anti-censorship/ freedom of choice ethos and their fearless and unashamed portrayal of the human body to question codes of representation and society mores.

The Homosapiens series is sensual, defiant and sexually provocative. We all interact with lovers and friends on various personal and intimate levels. The models that inspired these works are professional models and some are Starr’s long-time friends. Homosapiens captures their strength, defiance and powerfully provocative masculine & feminine sexuality.