Bright paint, sequins, rhinestones, fabric, feathers – and time and again the artist himself in various roles: the material collages of painter Devan Shimoyama are midsummer night’s dreams of alternative masculinities. As a homosexual African-American, the artist has an intense connection to themes of the Black community and queer subculture. Shimoyama’s works are worlds of neon and glitter; Greek mythology and Black pop culture; spirituality and activism. This lavishly designed catalog is published to accompany the artis’'s first institutional solo exhibition in Europe. In addition to numerous illustrations, it includes essays by curator Amely Deiss and art critic Evan Moffitt, poetry by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, and an artist interview with author and journalist Adriano Sack.

Text by: Amely Deiss