Interview with Damien Hinds, curator of “Company of Men”

With “Company Of Men” exhibition at Brightspace Gallery in St. Kilda coming to a close in the next few days, we just managed to sit down with curator of the exhibition, Damien Hinds, and have a chat before he takes “COM” to Sydney for Mardi Gras. +mar: Tell me a little bit about your role in bringing this exhibition together. dh: I came up with the concept, and have curated all of the artists that are involved in the exhibition. I was able to source some amazing talent through people I already know as well as met some amazing artists that I had never met before. I like that there are many meanings to the term “company of men” as well, being a group of men, also has a military connotations. +mar: What were your main concerns – or wants – in putting on “Company Of Men”? Clearly it is a celebration and exploration of male form, masculinity and the fetishisation of the ‘Adonis syndrome in queer culture, but tell me why we should see “Company of Men”? dh: In my previous works I explored the issue of masculine identity, either through photography or through dance, where I have had my formal training. I still explore these issue within my own photographic work and wanted to also exhibit the art of some extraordinary talent that doesn’t generally get any kind of space within traditional gallery spaces, either for being too sexual in nature or emerging artists that want to exhibit their work. The concept for the exhibition is based around male artists using the male form or male sexuality in their work. The themes in each work is different, from religious iconography, to viewing the male body as a landscape, underground gay culture from the 60’s and 70s, to classic sketches and physical performance where the performer explores his fantasy, self obsession and fetish. +mar: Tell me a little bit about your background. dh: I have been a photographer for about 20 years, well dabbled anyway. I went to Deakin Uni and did a performing arts degree where I developed my interest in photography further as well as took an interest in arts management. This is where my interest in curating came from, even though it’s taken several years to actually produce a show. +mar: I would say that the exhibition takes the same subject matter – the male form – and each artist uses different technologies and explores various practices and methodologies to attempt to represent a contemporary identity of man, what would you say, apart from the male body, is a common thread with all these different artists? dh: I chose all the different artists because they have a varied body of work, very different backgrounds, so the male as subject and masculinity is really the only common thread throughout. I like that all of the artists have a different take on how they explore ‘the masculine’, it really gives us an insight to how each artist views their own masculinity. +mar: How did Rogan Richards’ performance come about? dh: I met Rogan at my local gym one day, where I saw him pushing some extraordinary weights on the leg press machine, there was also a lot of grunting happening. He was working out with a mutual friend and introduced us. I knew his history of being involved in the porn industry but discovered also that he had quite a strong photographic talent. I started to follow him on Facebook and saw his alternate Facebook page Mousey-Lohan where he showcases all of his artistic pursuits. We met and discussed the possibility of him including some of his photographic work, -The ‘White Walls’ series, but we also discussed him performing as well. The ‘Pit’ area in Brightspace gallery where the exhibition is on was perfect for his performance where we worked together to set up his personal gym and the viewers could be voyeurs from above the pit. It was perfect for what Rogan wanted to do. I didn’t restrict Rogan’s vision, and he has produced an amazing and very surprising performance, which has received amazing audience feedback as well as some great reviews. There is a softness to Rogan under all of that muscle. +mar: It was a huge opening, and a great turn-out – congratulations – you’re taking the show to Sydney? dh: I am taking the exhibition to Sydney as a part of the 2014 Mardi Gras arts programme. Somewhat into the process, I realised that about half of the artists that I had asked to be involved were from Sydney, which has given me the opportunity to exhibit in Sydney, and that most of them would have a following. The opening of this will be on the 12th of February and it will be split between three spaces, the Oxford Hotel, Platform 72 gallery and the Oxford Art factory. The opening night will be a roving opening between the three spaces culminating in a performance at the Oxford Art Factory featuring Rogan Richards. +mar: What was your stand-out piece from “Company of Men”? dh: Thats a really tough question, a bit like choosing your favourite child if you were a parent, as I like all of the work for all different reasons, all of the artists have amazing talents. The stand out pieces for me would be Simon O’Logy’s ‘Naughty Little Boxes’, Shane Luskie’s ‘Fucking Hell’ and the beautiful series ‘Matteo’ by Brenton Parry. But as I said, all of the work os great and I would be happy to have any of it on my walls at home. +mar: What inspires you at the moment? dh: I am being very influenced by the artists that I am working with through the exhibition. I assisted Nik Dimopolous for the past couple of years on a few shoots that he has done for either the Trough X or John parties. I love what he can create out of his crazy but beautiful mind. Rogan Richards has also been inspiring artistically as he isn’t afraid to do what he wants, and I am going to try and use this attitude in my future work. Simon O’Logy’s work has also opened my eyes up to a some what old school technique but used in a more contemporary way, it’s great to see. +mar: What else are you excited about for Midsumma this year? What else are you seeing? dh: I haven’t actually had time to see anything else, other than Embodied and Katabasis, two exhibitions at Fortyfive Downstairs, as I have been looking after Brightspace where the Company of Men is on, hopefully I can get to ‘The Comfort Zone’ at Gasworks Art Park. +mar: What’s your next project that you are working on? dh: I’ll need a holiday after the Company of Men wraps up, but I am already getting ideas for the show to possibly be held again next year, and have already been approached by artists who would be interested in exhibiting if I was to curate a 2015 season of Company of Men. Personally for my own photographic work, I am wanting to do a series of images using men with tattoos, but that will be a little later this year. Company of Men is going to be exhibited in Sydney for Mardi Gras this year - you can keep up-to-date with the exhibition news here.