Sadao Hasegawa’s first international solo exhibition, *English Companion Inc.*, at London’s a. SQUIRE Gallery, features his unique homoerotic artwork. The show highlights his influences from spirituality and LGBTQ themes, marking an important moment in queer art history.
Sadao Hasegawa, a pivotal figure in homoerotic art from Japan, created visually stunning works inspired by diverse cultural references. His exhibition, English Companion Inc., at London’s a. SQUIRE Gallery, marks the first solo display of his art outside Japan. The show features various works on paper, offering insight into Hasegawa’s creative processes.
Archie Squire, the gallery owner, highlights the importance of this exhibition, noting that Hasegawa was reluctant to present his works abroad due to fears of customs issues. The title English Companion Inc. alludes to a Tokyo company, bridging his early focus on Western masculinity to his later works featuring Asian men.
While comparisons to Tom of Finland are common, Hasegawa’s unique blend of spirituality and cosmopolitan influences distinguishes him in the genre. He conceptualised a form of Asian futurism, an untapped theme in art. The details of Hasegawa’s life remain obscure, enhancing intrigue around his art, which emerged amid Tokyo’s vibrant postwar queer scene.
Hasegawa drew from Southeast Asian symbolism, merging it with Japanese erotica and Western physique representations. In a letter, he expressed his aim to create beauty from a non-Western perspective. His works, known for their time-bending aesthetics, depict gay relationships and mythological narratives that challenge societal erasure of queer identities.
Tragically, Hasegawa ended his life in 1999, but his legacy continues through his preserved archive. His artwork reflects a yearning for gentleness and understanding, illustrating a vital aspect of the Asian queer experience. Squire remarks on the significance of the exhibition, implying that without the change of heart by Hasegawa’s family, this vital collection could have been lost forever.
Sadao Hasegawa’s exhibition at a. SQUIRE Gallery underscores his impact on homoerotic art, showcasing a unique intersection of cultural influences. His work blends spirituality with LGBTQ themes, offering a distinctive perspective that is both timeless and poignant. Despite the tragedy of his untimely death, Hasegawa’s art lives on, challenging societal narratives around queer identities.
Original Source: i-d.co