H. Alan Cheung

If we look at history it shows that issues of sexuality are used again and again to test the limits of freedom. In the U.S.A. in the 1980's the AIDS crisis uncovered a moralizing conservative force. Again the explicit sexual content of art challenged freedom of speech and expression, at one point the existence of the National Endowment for the Arts was threatened.

I believe that artists must have absolute freedom of expression and not be restrained by traditional or dominant morals of the day. Without such freedom how can creative thought and advancement take place? If we are free to learn from history we would celebrate sex rather than restrict it.

In my work I use a process of painting and collage. The collage aspect is important as it provides a certain evidence of ancient erotic life. I use traditional Chinese brocade as a background, painting out sections of the fabric, just leaving the texture, and other areas I leave exposed. This becomes the setting where I recreate scenes of sexual activity, playfully reinterpreting this visual history using cut out reproductions of ancient erotic art.

This tribute page was created by Visual AIDS.