David Lock currently plays host to a post-modern, celebratory exhibit Fragmented Eros to studio1.1 in east London. Comprising of largely society portraiture, the works are an honest reflection of the twenty first century world.

Subtly sexy, the theme of desire is a common theme through a number of key works. Within the paintings, the spectrum of desire moves from a great ass in a jock to a comfortable family home. The men in the pantings are often found in various states of undress, unknown to the artist and sourced from the plethora of men’s fashion and lifestyle imagery found in magazines and online.

The “Misfit” paintings show these men as somewhat unsure and vulnerable or as uncomfortable objects of desire. In contrast, the “Looted” collage, created specifically for the show are clearly happy to be seen as sex objects. The title 'Looted', is itself lifted from 'Loot', the best-known work of the seminal gay playwright Joe Orton, Lock's uncle, murdered by his lover Kenneth Halliwell fifty years ago. Collage in fact played an important part in the pair's life; they created collages to smother the walls of their Islington flat, and for adding impertinent and scurrilous collages to scores, possibly hundreds of books from their local library they were arrested and sent briefly to prison. Lock’s collage is something of a tribute to them whilst also being a celebration of the male form and contemporary gay life. 

From now to 29 July 2018 at studio1.1. The gallery is open from Thursday - Sunday.