Beyond The Surface

Andrew Printer

Ran from 13th October – 27th November 2007

in association with Q Gallery as part of Glasgay.

Andrew gave a gallery tour and talk on Saturday 13th October

Andrew Printer is a photo-based artist living and working in southern California. His work aims to contribute to pertinent conversations taking place within the queer community, particularly about identity.

The Touch Me series explores the nature of intimacy in a post AIDS environment. Using expressionistic techniques this series of portraits describe a climate in which physical relationships have been saddled by concepts of disease, risk and suspicion and where technological advances (home computers!) and a conservative drift in values (in the U.S. in particular) seem to have fostered a climate of isolation, fear and the primacy of self-preservation.

The 16-piece Tomorrowland installation is intended to be a sarcastic commentary on the queer community’s awkward slide into assimilation. It intentionally references Norman Rockwell’s idealized America, it deliberately plays with stereotypes and its larger-than-life scale and vivid nature is designed to be an in-your-face antidote to the avalanche of uniform representations of gay men found in both mainstream and gay media.

Opening of Andrew Printer exhibition 'Beyond the Surface' on 12.10.07 and the Artists talk on 13.10.07. The photographer had come from San Diego to show his work. The exhibition was presented in association with Q Gallery and Glasgay.