Q News
Amal Murad
2 December 2024
A new exhibition at Sydney’s museum of queer history and culture, Qtopia, is set to challenge societal views surrounding the male body, explore evolving norms of male representation in the media and celebrate the 25th anniversary of gay men’s magazine DNA.
George Savoulis, curatorial director of Qtopia, said the exhibition would delve into the complexities of male body representation in the media over time, including the effects the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s.
Titled DNA 25 – The Male Body is Still Taboo, the exhibition will also examine why the female body is generally more exploited than the male form, and consider representations of trans men’s bodies, providing valuable insights into evolving perceptions of masculinity and inclusivity.
“The male body is taboo because of its historic sexualisation, censorship and the discomfort surrounding its portrayal, particularly in queer contexts,” Savoulis told QNews.
“Unlike the female form, the male body is less exploited in mainstream media but often faces hypersexualisation in queer spaces, perpetuating stereotypes.
“These taboos extend to how trans male bodies are discussed or excluded, reflecting broader societal biases.”
Gay men’s publication DNA, famous for its iconic depictions of the male form on its covers and in photospreads within the magazine, will be a key part of the exhibition.
“DNA presented the healthy male body as aspirational, interestingly when the HIV antiretroviral drug discovery and development era was gaining momentum.”
Savoulis said the exhibition would include archival footage and visuals from DNA, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary and 300th issue in January.
DNA magazine founding editor, Andrew Creagh, said the publication was “deeply involved in the exhibition as a co-collaborator, providing archival materials and creative insights. Its legacy as a platform for celebrating queer identities and challenging taboos is central to the installation’s narrative.”
Creagh said ideals of the male body had changed dramatically over time, reflecting evolving cultural concerns and beliefs. During the HIV/AIDS epidemic, many homosexual men admired a strong, hairless physique. Today, a more natural aesthetic has been embraced, highlighting body hair and a more modest muscular build.
A key component of the exhibition will be an LED video installation held in Qtopia’s Substation space in Taylor Square, Creagh said.
“The video will be on a constant loop, which means visitors to the space will be able to join the experience at any time and understand what they are seeing. The video will not be a chronologically ordered piece; rather, it will present ideas, concepts and themes,” Creagh explained.
“The installation will visually explain how and why institutionalised homophobia and sexism stigmatise and shame the male body, especially when it is presented as nude or sexualised.”
Australian queer archivist and historian Nick Henderson said DNA’s involvement in the exhibition was crucial, as one of Australia’s most consistent and popular magazines focused on gay male culture over the past few decades, serving as a vital link to the peak of Australian print publishing in the 1990s.
“LGBTIQ+ media in Australia has evolved significantly over the lifetime of DNA, most notably due to the impact of the internet and social media platforms,” said Henderson, who is a volunteer committee member and collection manager at the Australian Queer Archives.
“DNA has adapted to many of these changes, while still retaining a print publication, which is to be commended,” he said.
“Public history exhibitions on LGBTIQ+ subjects are an important way for our community to see ourselves represented and our stories told, when there is often limited publishing, film or television interest in such histories.”
The DNA 25 – The Male Body is Still Taboo exhibition is scheduled to open in February 2025, coinciding with next year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
