Collective Cuddles, 2023

Performance

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Photographs by René Razovy

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In Daniel Rey's Collective Cuddles, five men, all dressed in matching white T-shirts and light blue jeans, gather on The Cuddling Platform, a large denim cushion. There, they engage in gentle physical contact, exploring notions of human connection. On the cushion's surface lie two red ratchet straps, often used for securing it during transportation. The men's movements are unhurried and unscripted, entwined with the presence of the red straps. The work questions conventional notions of masculinity in patriarchal societies and highlights the significance of expressing affection beyond traditional romantic relationships.

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