Tom of Finland
11 - 17 Aug 2017
TOM OF FINLAND
11 - 17 August 2017
Touko Laaksonen, a decorated officer, returns home after serving his country in World War II. But life in Finland during peacetime proves equally distressing, where homosexuality is illegal and men around him are being pressured to marry women and have children.
Touko finds refuge in his liberating art, specialising in homoerotic drawings of muscular men, who are proud and free of inhibitions. His work—made famous by his signature ‘Tom of Finland'—became the emblem of a generation of men and fanned the flames of the gay movement.
11 - 17 August 2017
Touko Laaksonen, a decorated officer, returns home after serving his country in World War II. But life in Finland during peacetime proves equally distressing, where homosexuality is illegal and men around him are being pressured to marry women and have children.
Touko finds refuge in his liberating art, specialising in homoerotic drawings of muscular men, who are proud and free of inhibitions. His work—made famous by his signature ‘Tom of Finland'—became the emblem of a generation of men and fanned the flames of the gay movement.