Four years we came across a remarkable queer French artist called Marc Martin whose Exhibition ‘Public Toilets, Private Affairs’ was opening at Berlin’s LGBT Schwules Museum. 

He was bringing the topic of ‘cottaging ” right out into the open with this exhibition book that was almost like a celebration of this illicit activity. He had staged some encounters with models in public toilets around Europe.  the results of which are now being shown so effectively helped illustrate his point of view.  The book ended up winning the Prix Sade for Art Books in 2020 in Paris. (see https:// queerguru.com/public-toilets-private-affairs-an-exhibit-about-cottaging/)

Now Martin is back on Queerguru’s radar with a new Exhibition about to open in Berlin plus a new Book both called “BEAU MENTEUR” (Handsome Liar) about some of the clichés related to manhood. For the project, Martin attempts to put masculinity in its true light after setting it free from heteronormativity and aggressivity. Martin’s challenge: working with one single model to impersonate the full diversity of masculinity. the model is young, handsome, cisgender and white. on purpose. another way of challenging the toxic superiority of manhood.

Martin’s work is always both powerful and thought-provoking as he loves to analyze and investigate so many issues we face in the queer community that often make people feel uncomfortable.  His approach to all his projects like this benefits from his experience as both an artist and a queer man.

He told Queerguru  “I don’t believe that a man becomes toxic just because he looks masculine. Problems arise when manhood escalates into arrogance…»”

EXHIBITION Nov. 4th 2021 – Jan. 6th 2022.
Buchladen Eisenherz
Motzstraße 23, 10777 Berlin

BOOK https://www.marcmartin.paris/