A flicker of moonlight. The glimpse of flesh. We assemble these fractured images to stitch together our perception of a sensual rendezvous. It is not the perfect, sterilized pastiche often depicted in Hollywood films, but rather a frenzied rush of urgency and release.
Collage master Aaron Moth approximates the covetous experience of skin-on-skin dalliances by layering scraps of vintage pornography together in a provocative, profane manner.
But the artist regards his subjects with a sense of respect that is indelibly woven through his work. “They weren’t only porn stars,” Moth tells AnOther magazine. “They were also guys who felt, fell in love, and wanted to live – as we all do.”
Moth’s cardinal talent is finding connection is disconnection, the attraction of disarray. His recent exhibit Tenderness leverages found images and communiqués through which he conveys “untold stories in the form of left-over photos or dried flowers, or what I like very much: dedications or signatures of [materials’] former owners.”
Tenderness reclaims forgotten erotica, restructuring it to embrace the dynamic of trash mingling with treasure. Each appendage is a keepsake, especially when paired skillfully with a mustachioed mug or feathered coif.
The junkyard renaissance aesthetic of Moth’s collages waltzes alongside his modern photography to create a duality of queer longing and lust.
The visionary has built his career around bridging the gap between discarded smut and dazzling ephemera, but some schisms have proven to be too treacherous, even for Moth.
“This whole situation around the world now is not easy for me – limited contacts and lack of art are bad for me.”
But as we emerge from the pandemic and gather anew, Aaron Moth is digging into his roots and finding common ground. The visual stylist boasts Polish heritage while redefining and challenging the preconceptions of the German art scene where he now flourishes.
“Berlin can also be sensitive and gentle,” coos Moth. “I look at a given place a little differently and I try to see more delicate details in the rough and dark Berlin poses.”
The dichotomy between raw and regal is where Moth excels. His ability to evoke gay grandeur from the scraps of yesterday will pave our way to a more empowered tomorrow.
Photo: Instagram @aaronmoth.art
Last modified: June 15, 2021
