Hooven III, F. Valentine, “Afterword,” Tom of Finland: Life and Work of a Gay Hero, Berlin:Bruno Gmünder Verlag, 2012, pp 232-235

233

AFTERWORDTom’s passion continues …

Twenty-one years later, Tom of Finland’s influence is still felt by new generations of all ori-entations. In 2006, the Museum of Modern Art in New York accepted five Tom of Finland drawings into their permanent collection as part of a much larger gift from The Judith Roth-schild Foundation. The trustee of The Judith Rothschild Foundation, Harvey S. Shipley Miller, said so eloquently, “Tom of Finland is one of the five most influential artists of the twentieth century. As an artist he was superb, as an influence he was transcendent.”

Harvey’s statement reflected what I instinctively knew as a young man, that somehow Tom’s life had to be documented and his work preserved. Now, Tom’s message is permanent-ly fused into the fabric of modern-day culture.

Tom’s goal was to perfect his technical ability as an artist, to rise above language barriers and to successfully convey that men—his men—all men are proud, sexual, defined and fully realized by nature. Gay men are complete, happy without shame or guilt.

When an influence such as Tom’s is absorbed into society it ceases to be a separate ele-ment, and therefore, difficult to distinguish after the fact. We don’t even notice when in time these major cultural shifts take place.

The physiques of Tom’s men inspired developing gay men to become what they became. Knowing it was now possible, they went to gyms in masses to develop their bodies and in turn, ignited the entire culture and with it came the explosion of the fitness movement which spread health clubs across all nations.

The clothing/gear worn by the men in Tom’s drawings sparked designers such as Tom Ford and Jean Paul Gaultier, and their Tom-influenced designs revolutionized the men’s fash-ion industry. Bands and their lead singers, like Judas Priest, Freddy Mercury and the Village People, adopted styles that were the result of being reared on Tom of Finland. They exposed the broader culture to the male sexual icons of Tom’s men, bringing them to life.

The gay liberation, gay pride and coming-out movements, the proliferation of gay bars and especially the leather/biker subculture, have their roots embedded with Tom’s influence. Tom was an instrument that created the archetypes needed at the time for redefining homo-sexuals—first by gays themselves; then, eventually, by all of society.

Untitled, 1978, graphite on paper, ToFF #79.18

“Tom’s Masterwork.” This drawing had previously been in the possession of Robert Mapplethorpe and eventually was sold in his estate auction at Christie’s. Harvey S. Shipley Miller, trustee of The Judith Rothschild Foundation, called this drawing a masterwork. He also said that Tom did several masterworks in his lifetime and few artists ever do any.

Hooven III, F. Valentine, “Afterword,” Tom of Finland: Life and Work of a Gay Hero, Berlin:Bruno Gmünder Verlag, 2012, pp 232-235

233

AFTERWORDTom’s passion continues …

Twenty-one years later, Tom of Finland’s influence is still felt by new generations of all ori-entations. In 2006, the Museum of Modern Art in New York accepted five Tom of Finland drawings into their permanent collection as part of a much larger gift from The Judith Roth-schild Foundation. The trustee of The Judith Rothschild Foundation, Harvey S. Shipley Miller, said so eloquently, “Tom of Finland is one of the five most influential artists of the twentieth century. As an artist he was superb, as an influence he was transcendent.”

Harvey’s statement reflected what I instinctively knew as a young man, that somehow Tom’s life had to be documented and his work preserved. Now, Tom’s message is permanent-ly fused into the fabric of modern-day culture.

Tom’s goal was to perfect his technical ability as an artist, to rise above language barriers and to successfully convey that men—his men—all men are proud, sexual, defined and fully realized by nature. Gay men are complete, happy without shame or guilt.

When an influence such as Tom’s is absorbed into society it ceases to be a separate ele-ment, and therefore, difficult to distinguish after the fact. We don’t even notice when in time these major cultural shifts take place.

The physiques of Tom’s men inspired developing gay men to become what they became. Knowing it was now possible, they went to gyms in masses to develop their bodies and in turn, ignited the entire culture and with it came the explosion of the fitness movement which spread health clubs across all nations.

The clothing/gear worn by the men in Tom’s drawings sparked designers such as Tom Ford and Jean Paul Gaultier, and their Tom-influenced designs revolutionized the men’s fash-ion industry. Bands and their lead singers, like Judas Priest, Freddy Mercury and the Village People, adopted styles that were the result of being reared on Tom of Finland. They exposed the broader culture to the male sexual icons of Tom’s men, bringing them to life.

The gay liberation, gay pride and coming-out movements, the proliferation of gay bars and especially the leather/biker subculture, have their roots embedded with Tom’s influence. Tom was an instrument that created the archetypes needed at the time for redefining homo-sexuals—first by gays themselves; then, eventually, by all of society.

Untitled, 1978, graphite on paper, ToFF #79.18

“Tom’s Masterwork.” This drawing had previously been in the possession of Robert Mapplethorpe and eventually was sold in his estate auction at Christie’s. Harvey S. Shipley Miller, trustee of The Judith Rothschild Foundation, called this drawing a masterwork. He also said that Tom did several masterworks in his lifetime and few artists ever do any.

Hooven III, F. Valentine, “Afterword,” Tom of Finland: Life and Work of a Gay Hero, Berlin:Bruno Gmünder Verlag, 2012, pp 232-235

235

Tom’s work favored the “manly man.” His motivation? This type definitely turned Tom on, yet he consistently chose “butch” because manliness had always been denied the homosex-ual—as if it was solely owned by the heterosexual world! Tom felt this unjust and wanted to equalize the playing field. He sought to broaden the vocabulary of what gay men could be.

Members of the Queer Nation organization protested Tom of Finland not long after his death, calling him a “sell out”—only drawing what they saw as “straights.” They were too young to know the history of why the artist chose the super-masculine male for a role model. Tom wished everyone to have the freedom to be what they wanted to be by their own definition. Gay men of different generations have found Tom’s work as the centerpiece of gay events and in gay establishments worldwide. Tom of Finland is the declaration of who we are: proud to be gay.

—Durk Dehner

Tom of Finland was a groundbreaking queer artist, a subversive, an activist. His drawings have provided developing Homosexuals with empowering role models: icons. His creations, “Tom’s Men,” broadened global society’s definition of what a queer could be. He gave us permission to be. And influenced artists that stood on his shoulders, with what they would see.

—S. R. Sharp, Starrfucker magazine, Issue 04, 2011, created by Jeremy Lucido

Finnish magazine article on Freddy Mercury and Tom

Hooven III, F. Valentine, “Afterword,” Tom of Finland: Life and Work of a Gay Hero, Berlin:Bruno Gmünder Verlag, 2012, pp 232-235

235

Tom’s work favored the “manly man.” His motivation? This type definitely turned Tom on, yet he consistently chose “butch” because manliness had always been denied the homosex-ual—as if it was solely owned by the heterosexual world! Tom felt this unjust and wanted to equalize the playing field. He sought to broaden the vocabulary of what gay men could be.

Members of the Queer Nation organization protested Tom of Finland not long after his death, calling him a “sell out”—only drawing what they saw as “straights.” They were too young to know the history of why the artist chose the super-masculine male for a role model. Tom wished everyone to have the freedom to be what they wanted to be by their own definition. Gay men of different generations have found Tom’s work as the centerpiece of gay events and in gay establishments worldwide. Tom of Finland is the declaration of who we are: proud to be gay.

—Durk Dehner

Tom of Finland was a groundbreaking queer artist, a subversive, an activist. His drawings have provided developing Homosexuals with empowering role models: icons. His creations, “Tom’s Men,” broadened global society’s definition of what a queer could be. He gave us permission to be. And influenced artists that stood on his shoulders, with what they would see.

—S. R. Sharp, Starrfucker magazine, Issue 04, 2011, created by Jeremy Lucido

Finnish magazine article on Freddy Mercury and Tom