Mask of Sodomite (pronounced “sah-doh-mighty”)

2003
Found object sculpture (buckles, bike parts, leather, and decorative copper fans)
12” x 12” x 12”
Shipped without pedestal

Growing up, shows like Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess provided a welcome escape into fantasy words of gods and monsters. Despite these shows being cultural touchstones for queers coming of age in the 1990s, the characters and themes were very heteronormative. The most transgressive elements of these shows were the same-sex friendships between the heroes and their sidekicks that caused them to sometimes go literally “to Hell and back” for each other. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was a regular on the show, providing both misogynist comedic relief and a reassuring ubiquity of straight romantic plot points. As I watched these shows, I would fantasize about a god of gay love who could make the stories more interesting for me. By creating this mask, I explored creating my own personal deity to aid in my self-liberation from the stifling heteronormative culture of my upbringing. Sodomite has given me strength through the many times I’ve “come out” over my life.