The gay art of Oztangles
Read this mitchmen series from Part 1
2015
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| Oztangles - All Together |
2015 seems to have been a quiet year for Oztangles art, this gym buddies series being the most interesting work. Sex in gyms seems to be a favoured subject for him but explicit images like this are relatively rare in Oztangles's work. It's a straightforward subject in erotic terms but but the mirror splattering effect (almost impossible to capture in a photograph) is a neat twist.
This picture features some nice chunky physiques.
2016
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| Oztangles - Asana |
This striking pose featuring another 'chunky' makes a great picture and despite it's academic style and spiritual undertones is unashamedly erotic. Asana is the general term for a yoga pose and that influence is seen in other pictures in this period, in fact the companion piece to gym buddies (featured just above) shows both men striking a similar pose alongside each other to create an arty double-vision effect.
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| Oztangles - The New Gym Manager |
The artist revisited that gym sex idea in more detail in 2016, using the same setting. He produced a 6 piece series which shows a provocatively-dressed Shawn being seduced (?) by the hunky new gym manager, Phil.
Oz's interest in unusual, erotic clothing is familiar to us now but it seems slightly naive of Shawn to wear this skimpy outfit to the gym and then look surprised when it prompts the first man who sees it to start undressing. It seems as though that Phil's hyper-masculine appearance is overwhelming him, like a dream come true. Oz has gone out of his way here to create two men who stand at almost opposite extremes of the gay spectrum of sex appeal in almost every respect and it's a surprising pairing.
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| Oztangles - Going Down On Shawn |
Shawn's shocked surprise continues (somewhat improbably) as Phil gets down to work.
Another chunky physique, despite his athletic occupation.
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| Oztangles - Pumping Shawn* |
Shawn ends up shooting the mirror just like his predecessor in 2015, but this is a more refined version of that image. The change of angle and inclusion of an embracing arm succeeds in bringing out that these men are experiencing deep sensual pleasure from coupling their bodies, not just slaking their lust.
*I've sanitised the pungent wording of the original title, but that's not to minimise the genuine lustfulness of this series.
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| Oztangles - Chastity Scoreboard |
Earlier images in this series which featured chastity cages seemed focussed simply on crude control but this is a more thoughtful study. It uses simple symbolism to develop the subject of extended chastity.
The clock obviously shows the passage of time. Typically, Oz chooses an impressive, antique type, perhaps intending to draw on the idea of Victorian values such as discipline, obedience and devotion to a partner. The scoreboard presumably records the number of days this man has gone without discharging his feelings (although a cynic might see it as a count of how many times he has serviced his partner without getting any similar reward himself).
You may have seen diaries of men recording their experience of wearing chastity devices for an prolonged period. It's a way of showing loyalty to a partner, I suppose, but a bit weird if not reciprocated. I suspect the practice is not so much a lifestyle choice, as an exotic form of edging.
2017
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| Oztangles - The Milking Shed |
I published this picture previously at mitchmen in 2020 as part of the milking factory series but make no apology for repeating it here. It the sort of arresting, composite drama that Oz is very good at but adds to his portfolio only occasionally.
He's populated this one with an attractive range of men, all fitted with extraction tubes. The most prolific producer (right) isn't fully visible but his sexy body provides ample interest. The others watch warily as the overseer approaches with a device to stimulate production from one of the laggards. He's the most mature of the group above so it's understandable if his production capability isn't what it used to be. The nipple clips have obviously failed to do the trick so it looks like the foreman is about to try the carrot. If that doesn't work, I suppose the stick will be next.
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| Oztangles - Wet Nightmare |
This image draws on a similar, forced milking scenario and uses the same visual construct for the mature, principal character, who we now see is sitting in another of Oztangle's sci-fi restraint frames, this one disguised as hi-tech, deck chair.
From this angle we can see that his ejaculate is being extracted into 5 separate collection vessels but we can only guess what they represent. Perhaps it's quality is being sifted by the extraction device (which appears to be impressively powered by nuclear fuel!). My guess is that the tubes reveal his declining production over successive periods of time, hence the need to provide stimulation.
If this is a production facility, it's a more private one with a cold, more clinical atmosphere but the harness-clad operative has clearly commandeered this man for his own pleasure as much as anything else. His method for stimulating production - an electro-wand - is crueler and much more intimidating than the dildo in the preceding picture. The victim's curled toes suggest that just the sight of it has already had an encouraging effect.
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| Oztangles - Vampire Prince |
The subject of milking is explored further with this image which has the look of another nightmare with it's victim chained to a cold, sacrificial block planted in the middle of a vast, arid, featureless plain. He looks like a fairly ordinary guy with his ginger mop and smattering of chest hair, although I suppose his endowment is exceptional. He is being molested by a rather cute vampire to the accompaniment of dramatic lightning bolts and flanked by blazing torches which add a mystical, semi-religious air to the proceedings.
The simplicity of the setting contrasts with the finely-detailed sets of other images in this period but it does create the sense of a nightmare where things are sensed rather than seen and there's a feeling of detachment from the real world.
2018
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| Oztangles - Think You Can Take This? |
2018 Seems to have been a quiet period for the artist as this is one of only two pictures by him which I have seen, the other being a beefcake pose of the leotard-clad 'rough trade' in the image above. Apart from his sexy characterisation and the intricately detailed (but slightly puzzling) setting, it's a relatively straightforward sexual encounter between a boastful top and a passer by who looks as if he might be a lot less experienced. The challenging words put into the top's mouth by the title represent the sort of sexually-aggressive situation that Ulf often simulates but it's not really my cup of tea. His seated position and 'come and get me' outfit don't quite chime with those forceful words.
2019
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| Oztangles - Alien Nightmare |
This image might easily form the basis for an entry in the mitchmen '
Milking Factory' series but it doesn't seem as if mass production is what these elegant, highly-stylised aliens have in mind. Mass assessment clearly is however and they have built an expensive facility of, effectively, niche-like cages where men can be detained humanely and their plumbing examined. Imprisoned comrades are obliged to look on while one of their number is singled out for milking, not such a terrible fate you might think.
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| Oztangles - Fallen Angel |
This image revives two successful Oz themes from earlier years.
Firstly the cellar like dungeon where captives are restrained to await the attentions of a master who is seen descending the steps to deal with them. This atmospheric setting was previously seen in 2009's '
Downstairs it's Playtime' (in mitchmen Oztangles retrospective
Part 1).
Secondly, the character 'Angel' who was last seen running amok in a weight training gym in '
Bench Press' and other related images from that same year. Now he seems to have met his match and is obliged to await the inevitable in a humiliating and highly uncomfortable pose. It offers an erotic sight to the top that has already prompted a reaction from him and his smile perhaps reflects knowledge of Angel's romantic exploits in earlier times, maybe even a personal interest in taming him.
Quite what caused Oz to revisit these ideas 10 years later is unknown, perhaps this was an unfinished project, but if so it's completion adds a significant entry to his portfolio.
We have come to expect 'fashion statements' from Oz in his pictures - witness the sweeping alien garments in the preceding image - and he duly obliges here by equipping the top with gold boots.
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| Oztangles - The Night Clerk |
This picture has a slightly unfinished feel which may account for the absence of a logo. The hotel room depicted is seedy to the point of dilapidation so the appearance of the Night Clerk at the door, knowingly dressed in ragged, denim? shorts and lured (mesmerised almost!) by the promise of cash from a chubby guest is not overly surprising. It's not a common subject for a gay artist though (in contrast to last years Rough Trade, alley sex image).
The client's appearance here is a logical development of the chunky physiques 0f 2015-6 above and it's not altogether unattractive and certainly not devoid of erotic interest, but it makes a dramatic contrast with the steely, 'cut', musculature of the God-like gigolo in the doorway. That difference in appearance and age tends to be a chasm in real life, one that can usually only be bridged by money, so there's a measure of social comment here
Unexpectedly, there's a picture on the wall which satirises the old masters and the publicity stills of early, glamorous Hollywood stars. It's canted angle perhaps suggests that this sordid scene is the fate in store for even the most desirable sex objects as age asserts itself.
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The Oztangles retrospective at mitchmen blog concludes in Part 5.
You can read the previous Oztangles articles at mitchmen from Part 1
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