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Description
These are some older drawings I did as an experiment. Having always been influenced by the Japanese ukiyo-e style woodblock prints; I wanted to capture the atmosphere and subject matter that those artists often used. So much of their work was devoted to the liesure districts of Edo, I tried to do the same in what might be our modern equivelant to the courtesan houses of the time period- strip clubs! The drawings themselves were taken from a composite of gestural drawings done on my birthday when some friends took me to a strip club (I have a very understanding wife!) I then tried to stylize the smokey atmosphere and ubiquitous "pole" as well as imagery taken from the woodblocks themselves. The Japanese figures in the background represent the long tradition society has had of placing women on display for sexual purposes, sort of the past looking onto the present... the coins of course represent the money that has always driven the industry in one form or another.
These pieces were in my portfolio when I went before my BFA committee, one professor found them offensive to women, and another argued that they weren't offensive enough- what do you think?

Description
These are some older drawings I did as an experiment. Having always been influenced by the Japanese ukiyo-e style woodblock prints; I wanted to capture the atmosphere and subject matter that those artists often used. So much of their work was devoted to the liesure districts of Edo, I tried to do the same in what might be our modern equivelant to the courtesan houses of the time period- strip clubs! The drawings themselves were taken from a composite of gestural drawings done on my birthday when some friends took me to a strip club (I have a very understanding wife!) I then tried to stylize the smokey atmosphere and ubiquitous "pole" as well as imagery taken from the woodblocks themselves. The Japanese figures in the background represent the long tradition society has had of placing women on display for sexual purposes, sort of the past looking onto the present... the coins of course represent the money that has always driven the industry in one form or another.
These pieces were in my portfolio when I went before my BFA committee, one professor found them offensive to women, and another argued that they weren't offensive enough- what do you think?