‘CU in 40 emILY’ is a self-portrait series that investigates my (and more widely) queer fetish, subdued curiosity, and anonymity/suppressed queerness. The piece also leans into my soft sculpture practice as throughout the image you will the figures in custom-made furry masks.
Through a voyeuristic lens, we weave through a surreal, metallic, and hazy forest in which we witness cruising. The rendering story-book-styled terrain replicates the mind and sexual consciousness. As the curious mind is my own, abstracted self-portraiture felt crucial to the piece.
All versions of myself in the series are masked, these masks (and many of the clothes) are custom made out of recycled teddy bears (this deriving from my soft sculpture practice, Bears Who Care, in which I strictly use recycle teddy bears as material). The masks both nod to anonymity and furry dress, whilst exploring primality and arousal in nature.
The title ‘CU in 40 emILY’ symbolises anonymous hook-up messaging, with the name ‘emILY’ duping as a female partner, whilst also containing the anagram ‘I Love You’.
Photography, Post and Soft Toy Furry masks (seen throughout) - DEAN HOY
