Is He or Isn't He?

With most gay artists, we're reminded of their sexual orientation only through playful references in their works - like David Hockney - or their penchant for public loos, à la George Michael. But then there are artists like Bruce LaBruce, who makes even Ricky Martin look straight.

Mind you, it's hard to tiptoe around the subject when your claim to fame is through the cult flicks No Skin Off My Ass and The Raspberry Reich, gifting us in the process with such priceless lines as "Heterosexuality is the opiate of the masses".

'Queercore' is the name of this school of artistic expression, and LaBruce is one of the boundary-pushing artists at its forefront, constantly revealing more lurid facets of gay sub-cultures than perhaps called for. And this week he's in town to scratch your more eccentric itches.

If you manage to catch a glimpse of him, he looks surprisingly harmless. A touch pedestrian even. But don't be fooled. Just because he isn't livin' la vida loca, like Ricky, doesn't mean that he doesn't know how depraved it can be.

Blowback by Bruce LaBruce - Oct 17-Nov 28
Antigua Casa Haiku, Mila i Fontanals 14, Gracia.
Opening 19:30h October 16, followed by DJ session at Club Tropicana @ Lotus, Bailén 22
No Skin Off My Ass - 19:30h Sat Oct 18, Cine Maldà

By MF