"Reality & Fantasy The World of Tom of Finland" consists of 30 works produced between 1946 and 1989, covering the entire career of Tom of Finland, paying attention to his diverse talents, while also promoting LGBTQ rights around the world and introducing the era of gay culture. ​

　You can see the development of his artistic style through pieces made in various techniques such as graphite, guash, markers, pens, and ink, and pieces that can be said to be milestones in his activities. Two drawings "Untitled" (from AGM Men of the Forests of Finland, 1957), "Untitled" on the cover of "Pysique Pictorial" magazine (from AGM "Men of the Forests of Finland") and "Untitled" (from the AGM "Motorcycle Thief" series, 1964), which triggered Tom's name to become famous.​

　This exhibition also focuses on Tom of Finland's gay culture and its role in the original freedom of free human beings. In the face of the laws and social harsh realities (realities) that the gay people were fighting to change, Tom encouraged the transformation of society and the acceptance of the gay people by drawing the male body sensually and eroticly. While pursuing the fantasy world along with sexual liberation, Tom dispelled the image that society at that time had imposed on gay men by drawing a completely new "gay masculinity". This will be the first solo exhibition in Japan, the long-awaited Tom of Finland, a historical writer who promoted freedom and social tolerance. ​

Reality & Fantasy The World of Tom of Finland, brings together a selection of works, covering the artist’s entire four decades of career, and presents works on paper using a variety of mediums, such as graphite, gouache, markers, and pen & ink. Historically, the images highlight milestones and artistic stylistic developments in Tom’s life and practice—starting with his 1940s and '50s paintings in gouache, of men in stylish attire and uniforms, such as sailors, soldiers and policemen, in fantastic and romantic compositions, influenced by his army service in Finland—to his stylized depictions of leathermen and muscle men in the ’60s and ’70s, and the cleaner, high contrast and graphic drawings of his later career when he was working in Los Angeles.

The exhibition also features many works commissioned by the Athletic Model Guild (AMG), founded and headed by Bob Mizer in 1945. Tom and Bob had a long-time professional relationship. It was Bob that added "of Finland" to Tom's name as was the fashion of the day. Reality and Fantasy, includes a number of drawings that appeared in AMG's magazine Physique Pictorial, including two drawings that appeared on the cover of the magazine (Untitled, from the AGM “Men of the Forests of Finland” series, 1957; and Untitled, from the AGM “Motorcycle Thief" series, 1964.)

The exhibition puts emphasis on Tom of Finland’s role in promoting sensual and erotic depictions of the male body as a catalyst for social change and the acceptance of gay people, while facing a legal and social reality they were fighting to change. Delving into a world of fantasy, with sexual freedom, Tom depicted a new “gay masculinity”, adding to the vocabulary of what gay men were allowed to be by society.

The exhibition, at GALLERY X, is the fruits of a collaboration between the Finnish Institute Japan, the Embassy of Finland in Japan, the Tom of Finland Foundation, The Container gallery, and PARCO. The exhibition is curated by the Tokyo-based curator and director of The Container, Mr. Shai Ohayon. The exhibition was designed to coincide with Tom’s 100th birthday anniversary - #TOMs100.

1. TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920-1991), Untitled, 1963, Graphite paper, 12.44 in. x 9.38 in., Tom of Finland Foundation permanent collection, © 1963 - 2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

2. TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920-1991), Untitled (From the Athletic Model Guild "Men of the Forests of Finland" series), 1957, Graphite paper, 13.00 in. x 9.50 in., Tom of Finland Foundation permanent collection, © 1957 - 2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

3. TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920-1991), Portrait of Pekka (Cover of Sex in the Shed), 1975, Gouache on paper, 10.69 in. x 8.81 in., Tom of Finland Foundation permanent collection, © 1975 - 2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

4. TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920-1991), Untitled, 1989, Graphite paper, 12.31 in. x 9.38 in., Tom of Finland Foundation permanent collection, © 1989 - 2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

5. TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920-1991), Untitled (From the Athletic Model Guild "Motorcycle Thief" series), 1964, Graphite paper, 12.69 in. x 8.63 in., Tom of Finland Foundation permanent collection, © 1964 - 2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

6. TOM OF FINLAND (Finnish, 1920-1991), Untitled, 1947, Graphite paper, 11.31 in. x 8.19 in., Tom of Finland Foundation permanent collection, © 1947 - 2020 Tom of Finland Foundation

※The image is an image.
※The design is subject to change.

Finnish artist (May 8, 1920-November 7, 1991). It is widely known for his work depicting gay and for promoting the rights of LGBT people and social movements aimed at being accepted by society. His life spanned 3,500 drawings and are housed in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Art Institute Chicago, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Kiasma, etc.​

In 1984, the nonprofit Tom of Finland Foundation (ToFF) was established by Durk Dehner and his friend Tom. As Tom of Finland had established worldwide recognition as the master of homoerotic art, the Foundation’s original purpose was to preserve his vast catalog of work. Several years later the scope was widened to offer a safe haven for all erotic art in response to rampant discrimination against art that portrayed sexual behavior or generated a sexual response. Today ToFF continues in its efforts of educating the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and in promoting healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality.

www.TomOfFinland.org