A new exhibit opens at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park with an opening wine reception Aug. 11th at 7 p.m. Redemption is a provocative photography exhibition that explores the complexity of self-definition for a gay man of color. Photographer David Quintanilla drew inspiration for Redemption after reading some of black gay novelist James Baldwin’s work as well as the current political climate.
Redemption promises to be one of the most thought provoking and evocative art events in San Diego. The exhibition runs till Aug. 14 and will feature breathtaking images of gay men of color creating their own identity.
The exhibit was created out of Quintanilla’s belief that gay men of color were too often being sidelined in the arts. Redemption is unique in that while it addresses broader cultural issues that impact men of color’s ability to self-define, issues such as immigration or state violence, Redemption remains firmly and unapologetically within an illustrious gay male artistic tradition.
One of the ways the exhibit manages to do this is by only utilizing self-identified gay men of color as models. An example of this bridging of various issues and communities, is Quintanilla’s piece “The Son and the Prophet” which is a profound meditation on the struggles that gay men of Latin and Arab decent must face concerning religion.
The piece draws the viewer in through it recreation of iconic religious imagery while simultaneously asking how Latin and Arab gay men self-define amidst religions hostile to their sexuality and a Western culture that is often hostile to their faiths and cultures.
Further the exhibit has a strong male nude component to further highlight gay men’s vulnerability and connection to the rest of humanity. While the models represent a certain bodily ideal, Quintanilla purposely wanted to draw attention to the fact that regardless of what body they possess, they are still excluded from the ideal.
For more information about Redemption visit elevatevisualart.com.
