09.01 — 09.10.2023
Under the Pleasure District
Henry Hate
daily, 3-9pm
Panel Discussion:Tuesday, September 5th, 8-9PM: Henry Hate, Lola Ray of Jumbo’s Clown Room, and Dinos Chapman of the Chapman Brothers moderated by Lissa Rivera, artist and former curator at the Museum of Sex.
Lauren Powell Projects is honored to present Under the Pleasure District, an innovative "sexhibition" featuring the artistic creations of renowned celebrity tattoo and visual artist Henry Hate. The exhibition runs from September 1st to September 10th, 2023, and will feature live tattooing sessions within the gallery each day.
Under the Pleasure District marks Henry Hate's return to his hometown of Los Angeles after 25 years of artistic endeavors in London. The exhibition transforms the gallery into a vivid representation of Soho's crimson-lit red light district, complete with peep shows and live tattooing at its center—a spectacle viewable from the street by all passersby. Drawing inspiration from Sigmund Freud's concept of the "pleasure principle," which drives individuals to seek immediate gratification for instinctual impulses such as sex, hunger, thirst, and libidinal impulses, the exhibition explores a universal facet of human nature that transcends sexual orientation, gender, socioeconomic backgrounds, and more. While the pleasure principle suggests that inherent human nature compels individuals to instinctively pursue instant pleasure and avoid pain, tattoos uniquely encompass the pleasure derived from pain itself. As a result, visitors are invited to contemplate emotions of affection and desire as they gaze upon portraits of former lovers, acquaintances, strangers, friends, and previous clients while seated in Hate's tattoo chair.
Red light districts symbolize spaces where individuals can experience anonymity, escape the need for validation, and encounter instant thrills and gratification that predate the era of social media likes and clicks. In Under the Pleasure District, the dominant use of the color red mirrors the district's neon glow and resulting glare, alluding to vitality and hope. Some artworks also reimagine religious paintings and the celestial glow found in historical compositions. Historically, the color red has been associated with sensuality and danger, but it has also been utilized to stimulate appetite and conceal imperfections, including blemishes and the marks left on sex workers during the Victorian era.
Under the Pleasure District encompasses themes of heartbreak, love, validation, sexual prowess, friendships, lust, and the promise of "prosperity gospel." These themes are intertwined with undertones of religious art, reflecting Hate's upbringing in the Catholic faith. The exhibition encompasses paintings, tapestries, photography, sculptures, and prints, with a central focus on tattooing that invites viewers into a captivating realm of indulgence and a transient pop-up peepshow experience.
Nicknamed the "Notorious Henry Hate" by The Advocate, Hate has worked with an impressive array of high-profile clients, including the late Amy Winehouse, designer Alexander McQueen, and Boy George. He has also collaborated with renowned fashion photographer Nick Knight, Nissan Motors, Fred Perry, and other esteemed brands.
This exhibition marks Hate's inaugural venture in placing the art collector “under the” single use needle with this unique offering of a tattoo over a canvas. Attendees can choose from a selection of predetermined flash tattoo sheets inspired by and dedicated to Amy Winehouse. Notably, this exhibition also marks the first occasion in which reproductions of the Cynthia pin-up girl and the horseshoe tattoos will be available, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Amy Winehouse Foundation. Additionally, Hate will be gifting 30 prints to the first attendees of the opening night who arrive wearing red.
Please also join us on Tuesday, September 5th at 8PM for a very special panel on Sex and Sensuality in contemporary art moderated by artist and former curator of the Museum of Sex, Lissa Rivera. For this discussion Hate will be joined by British artist Dinos Chapman of the Chapman Brothers and Lola Ray, longstanding performer at our iconic neighbor’s, Jumbos Clown Room. Anonymously submit your desires to this shared form prior to the discussion for an unparalleled exploration of art, desire, and human nature.
