Heyd Fontenot – When I Think About a Minotaur
Solo Exhibition
06.12.2023 - 13.01.2024
Between December 6, 2023, and January 13, 2024, SomoS Arts presents When I Think about a Minotaur, a solo exhibition of paintings and drawings by American multidisciplinary artist Heyd Fontenot, in which he removes the fig leaf from mythology, exposing its inherent queerness.
Fat Minotaur on Deco Vase
From the ‘Minotaur’ series
Gouache on paper
59,4 x 42 cm
Image courtesy of the artist
Introduction
With inventiveness and sly wit, the maverick artist invokes the multifaceted narratives of mythology, exploring the rich legacy of LGBTQ+ relationships and identities within its lore. Fontenot’s work delves into mythology not as an archaic or outdated form of storytelling but as a flamboyant, evolving commentary on human experiences and sexualities that defy the constraints of the normative.
“Greek Ideals”
Fontenot, known for his appreciation of the hermetic symbologies within secret societies, evokes the subtle queer sensibilities embedded in pre-Stonewall artistry. His exhibition, a homage to the coded visual language of “Greek Ideals,” reclaims its wit, clandestine excitement, and inherent subversiveness.
Inverted Mask, from the ‘Ode to a Greek Arse’ series
2023
Graphite and acrylic-gouache on paper
59,4 x 42 cm
Image courtesy of the artist
Fontenot’s View of the Nude Body
The artist’s drawings breathe life into an intimate sphere where the mythological intertwines with the personal, utilizing symbolism as a tool for liberation. Amidst a cultural landscape still shadowed by outdated taboos around nudity, Fontenot’s pieces urge a renaissance of perception—inviting the observer to see the naked form as an emblem of vulnerability, intimacy, and unfiltered truth, rather than merely sexual. Fontenot’s artistry dismantles the excessive idolization of the “ideal” physique, championing body positivity and fluidity, literally and ideologically placing the real body on a pedestal.
Composition with Blue Mask, Yellow Brian and small vases
2023
Gouache on paper
40×30 cm
Image courtesy of the artist
A Labyrinthine Sense of Space
Featuring renderings of figures such as centaurs, Medusa, and many characters that appear, at first glance at least, to simply be human, the exhibition space invites to a labyrinthine journey, alluding to life’s intricate paths laden with joy, error, and the inescapable presence of our own internal Minotaurs.
Understanding -and Resisting- a Minotaur
At the heart of Fontenot’s narrative is a nuanced contemplation of the Minotaur himself—a figure often misconstrued. Fontenot articulates ambivalence: compassion for the Minotaur’s solitary suffering and critique of the toxic masculinity that Pablo Picasso, among others, appropriated through the myth, reflecting a broader societal and cultural malaise around male behavior.
The symbolic narrative of Fontenot’s artistic labyrinth allows us to evade the ways of the oppressive Minotaur, to uncover the tender subtleties of human connection, and to revel in the celebration of consensual delight, free from the bindings of dominion.
The crowned/enthroned Minotaur, 2023
Graphite and acrylic-gouache on paper
29,7×21 cm
Image courtesy of the artist
Mythology as Compass
This collection is more than a series of mythological representations; it is a deciphering of the human psyche’s timeless map, offering solace in the shared odyssey of existence. Fontenot reflects, “Like sailors steering by celestial bodies, these ancient stories guide us, reminding us of the shared journey of humanity—past, present, and future. Someone has been this way before, you aren’t the first to pass this way, and you won’t be the last.”
When I Think about a Minotaur is a testament to the enduring power of myths to speak to our deepest selves, to offer comfort, and to chart a course through the complex waters of identity and existence.
Hilly as Centaur with braided Goatee, 2023
Graphite and acrylic-gouache on paper
40×30 cm
Image courtesy of the artist
About Heyd Fontenot
Renowned multidisciplinary artist Heyd Fontenot, originally from Louisiana, began his journey through Berlin’s flourishing art scene through an extended artist residency at SomoS in 2023. With a dynamic career spanning various roles – from experimental filmmaker in the 1990s to designer, art director, producer, painter, curator, and director of the Central Trak Artists Residency at The University of Texas at Dallas and Sala Diaz / Casa Chuck Exhibition Space & Artist Residency, San Antonio – Fontenot’s artistic journey is marked by versatility and a multidisciplinary approach. His work, celebrated for its empathy and humor, challenges societal norms by respectfully and candidly exploring themes of nudity, human vulnerability, and identity. Fontenot’s art, recognized for its thought-provoking nature, has earned acclaim across the United States, with exhibitions at prominent venues like the Galveston Arts Center in Texas.
Find out more about Heyd Fontenot
Details
When I Think about a Minotaur – solo exhibition by Heyd Fontenot
Opening reception: Tuesday, December 5, 2023, 6 – 9 pm
Duration: December 6, 2023 – January 13, 2024, Tue – Sa, 2 – 7 pm
Events:
Saturday, January 13, 2024, 7 pm
Dirty Sauce – Poetry Reading & Panel Discussion
Featuring Kaycee Hill, Daisy Nikoloska & Heyd Fontenot
Thursday, December 14, 2023, 7 – 9 pm
Dirty Talk – Panel Discussion
Featuring Daisy Nikoloska, Janna Shaw & Heyd Fontenot
Location: SomoS – Kottbusser Damm 95, 1.0G, 10967, Berlin
Public transport: U8 – Schönleinstraße
