What’s in a name?
Eros Farnese
Photo by Miguel Hermoso Cuesta
Perhaps you are wondering, why “erostakles”?
What does it mean? Why such a strange artistic name?
The shortest and simplest answer is: It’s a persona; a conduit through which i can channel my most central emotions and desires.
Creative people throughout time have utilized various names and identities through which to exercise their creativity.
i am no different.
i chose “erostakles” for many reasons.
First of all, it’s a nod to my deep love of and appreciation for the ancient Greeks, whose culture and history have fascinated me my entire life.
Second, paying homage to that fact, i created a name which — i hope — roughly translates to “Favored by Eros,” the Greek god of love and sex. (It’s true: i am still trying to learn Greek in my everyday life.)
Love and sexuality are central to both my own personal identity and at the core of my artistic visions and expressions. And so, “erostakles” was the name that meant the most to who i am as a creator and person.
Further questions you might have:
Why do you only focus on the male form?
For one, i am a cisgender gay male. So at the most base level, the male form is what i am attracted to.
i also find the concepts of masculinity and femininity fascinating; and the juxtaposition of the fluidity of gender expression against biological sex to be intriguing.
i also believe that the female has been greatly exploited throughout artistic history; and i believe it’s only fair for the masculine to be equally objectified and exploited in its own turn.
Is all of your art erotic?
Yes.
Though i enjoy drawing penises and the male form, i am also intrigued by the subtle sensuality that is all around us.
For example, the male homosexual experience has included something called, “The Hankie Code,” which was an important cultural and communication tool employed during a time of LGBTQ+ repression and social exclusion. It fascinates me that queer communities were able to find a way to express themselves and communicate their desires in a simple — yet complex — way in an era before cell phones and hook-up apps.
Also, in a nod to Georgia O’Keefe, i am a firm believer in finding the sensuality in the everyday life around us all. All of nature is declaring its sexuality everywhere, if we would only stop and listen to it.
Further, i’m trying to follow the great many still life masters before me. In their incredible paintings, they utilized intellectual symbolism to communicate so much more than a vase of flowers or a skull with some orange peels around it. my own still life works aim to communicate the subtle homosexual messages with which i hope to reach my audience.
Why don’t you capitalize your name?
Because i don’t want to.
And also because this is a persona meant to honor an idea more than a person, i do not believe capitalization is necessary.
Plus, it is — in its own way — a subtle nod to my own sexual identities.
More questions?
If my responses didn’t satisfy your own questions and curiosity, feel free to engage me directly via my contact form. i will try to respond to your inquires as soon as i can.
Until the next sun rises,
-e
