The new image of rugby emphasises the power in the upper body, with snug fitting shirts and snazzy designs that flatter the physique. The imperious gaze and stormy clouds are a bit OTT but there's no doubting the weight of this chap!
John Eales, captain of Australia during the nineties, poses during training, demonstrating the body enhancing qualities of rubgy shorts. Amazingly this man was 18 stones in weight, according to my references. It is certainly placed in all the right places.
Ain't nothing like the real thing baby! (see previous post)
Mitchell - Rugby MemoryI have always found the sensuality and subject matter of Link's art very attractive but he is being jostled by some seriously talented artists here. I love the domination scenarios concocted by Losarro and Lowenhaupt but as regular readers will know, the old man + young man scenario doesn't work for me erotically and when combined with feminised facial features it's a no no.
I highlighted femininity in Leo's work as well, but it's quite different in nature, his men are made to behave in a feminine way so there's a humiliation angle that I can appreciate providing that the men do not lose their maleness in the process. In fact there is a gentleness about Leo's men which is not unmasculine (and is probably true to life) but doesn't seem quite appropriate in erotic domination fantasy. Leo's wide-ranging exploration of bondage is very perceptive and tremendously important but his representation of manhood doesn't work for me.
Logan is a different kettle of fish. He's a very talented graphic artist and his pictures have a tremendous power that springs from their artistry more than the subject matter. The maturity of his men is refreshing. But they have an angularity and hardness that for me drains away the erotic appeal.
This leaves me with Link and Les. Eye candy vs scary fantasy. I have to admit that my favourite picture in all the “L's” is Les's dungeon staircase, it invokes a sense of sexual anxiety and helplessness that presses all my buttons and this flavour runs through his work. The bizarre facial features and outfits add an extra twist which is surprisingly effective and has even survived the passage of time.
Les - Military Interrogation
'Military Interrogation' is another picture that makes good use of clothing and nudity to underline danger and vulnerability. The neat balanced composition draws you in to focus on the prisoner until you realise what the guard has clenched in his hand.
The vague, muddy reproductions unfortunately deprive Les's pictures of sensuality which is where Link really scores with his voluptuously muscled and handsome heroes that the eyes linger over.
Link's 'Train to Crotchdorf' is a good example with a selection of attractive men to study. The cute prisoners are being ferried to the prison, apparently by public transport, while the guards charged with keeping them 'on the boil' relax with their buddies. I love the situation that Link has created here, the condemned men hanging naked in full view of all the other passengers is the stuff of many commuters' fantasies!.
It's very hard to choose between these two but in this case I'm inclined to follow my head rather than my heart so I'm choosing Les as my winner for L.
There's a good selection of Les's work in the recent postings at Roids and Rants - but you'll have to hunt back through the archives for it!
For other articles in this series click on the A-Z label below.
