Hoodie
Hoodie (2008)
18¼×24½ Pastel on Pastel Paper
Original is Sold
Dark corners. A park at night, or an unfrequented restroom. These are places sought out for secret rendezvous or cruising. Is it the result of being pushed into the shadows by society's misguided condemnation, or is there a rush, an endorphin high from the possibility of getting caught?
This piece was much easier to name than my last one, for two obvious reasons. In fact, I think the title actually came first, acting as a playful double entendre for both his sweatshirt and his uncircumcised anatomy. I have heard that the hoodie owes much of its surge in popularity to London youths who started wearing them in response to ever-present surveillance cameras. The dimly lit, almost seedy setting I chose stems from that idea. I also really like how the hooded figure against the old brickwork lends an almost monastic quality to the piece.
