GUP #69 - TENDER

Everybody can use a little bit of kindness in their life, now more than ever perhaps. Having a soft heart in a cruel world is not evidence of weakness, but of courage. That’s what this issue of GUP is all about.

Lisa Sorgini and Khalik Allah, each in their own unique way, shed new light on the essence of the so-called couleur locale of life. The former has a soft focus on the pastoral vibe of mother/child dynamics in rural Australia, while the latter delivers a visual statement on the ultra-urban ‘street opera’ of a certain area of New York’s Harlem. Iringó Demeter, on the other hand, portrays what is closest to us – our body and skin – making these appear exotic while also giving expression to incredible intimacy. We also present a portfolio by András Ladocsi that showcases his engagement with the body, and the dynamics of communities and social groups.

The restrictions put upon us in recent times have triggered the realisation that love and devotion can be achieved in a more local realm too. But ‘home’ has a broad definition, of course – as is evident in the work of Silvana Trevale, currently based in the UK, but with an ongoing love for her Venezuelan roots. Besides, travelling to the lesser exposed regions of our planet can still result in compelling achievements – as becomes evident when seeing the work of Jeremy Snell.

The cover of this issue is by the renowned Paolo Roversi, who recently produced two volumes on his stunning and unique approach to fashion photography. And, as always, we highlight events and recently published books, including an extended review of Pacifico Silano’s conceptual take on gay culture in the late 20th century. Tenderness in this issue of GUP Magazine also emanates from the work of Dutch talents Laura Hospes, Laila Mubarak and Jesaja Hizkia.

- The Editorial Team

Cover Image: Paolo Roversi