**image1***Two pieces by Waikato erotic artist Graeme Hitchcock have been selected to appear at the Seattle Erotic Art Festival. Hitchcock will be the only New Zealand artist to show at the festival, after two of his pieces were selected from submissions received from 521 artists in 25 countries. He says the cheeky bronze sculptures, entitled Fier Ovation and Protection Les Masonne Joyaux – roughly translating to ‘standing proud' and ‘protecting the family jewels' - are a tongue and cheek celebration of male eros. “They represent having a laugh at being male and how we are often driven to distraction by testosterone. It's also about the ‘member' taking on an identity of its own,” Hitchcock says. In its ninth year the festival began as a place where art that was rarely seen in mainstream galleries and museums could be celebrated, discussed and supported. Hitchcock says it is now known worldwide for showcasing erotica art that goes beyond tired clichés of ‘sexiness' and redefines boundaries. In addition to being part of the Seattle Erotic Art Festival, another of his artworks has recently been selected to appear in the book The World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today – Vol 4 published this month. “The selected primal prance bronze sculpture portrays a natural and somewhat innocent, and yet very celebratory demonstration of male sexuality in an energy giving, life re-enforcing dance – a celebration of being male,” Hitchcock says, adding it was a pleasant surprise for his art to be selected for both the Seattle Erotic Art Festival and the book. “This is a fairly new area for me but one I enjoy working in enormously. I plan to go to the Seattle Festival to enjoy the exhibits, shows, workshops and network with other artists.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 2nd May 2011 - 2:03pm