I Kissed A Boy and I Liked It! (IX Collage)

"I Kissed A Boy And I liked it!" is an ongoing project exploring masculinity through collages of found images in both analogue and digital media. The spectrum of male iconography is examined—from machismo stereotypes to homoerotic expression—refracted through a range of realist, surrealist and abstract visions.

Silvio is particularly interested in exploring how maleness is represented in contemporary media. Using images torn from print media—including sources ranging from books to male magazines—Silvio deconstructs and re-assembles representations of the male body. Detaching visual gestures from the original images provides a platform for interrogating the intentions of both the original creator of the image and it’s intended viewers. Current widespread social criticism of masculinity—in it’s toxic and destructive forms—provides a rich milieu for Silvio's intense reflections on these topics via a queer gaze, as gay man born and raised in conservative, hyper-macho Brazilian society.

Pop culture is a frequent reference and starting point throughout Silvio's work. Thus, the project title, "I Kissed a boy and I liked it," derives from the lyric and video of the single, “Samaritans,” by Bristol-based punk band Idles—a song also reflecting on men’s masks of masculinity.

Silvio Severino

Silvio Severino is a contemporary photographer, collage and gif artist. He works in both analog and digital formats, which puts him in a unique creative position whereby he can cross and recross the traditional and the contemporary. 

Severino constantly searches for new values and visual languages that will allow him to incorporate photography, collage, and animation in new formats. Photography often becomes collage, and collage often becomes an animated gif; it is this exciting new frontier in contemporary art for which this artist is at the forefront. 

Severino is interested in exploring a range of contemporary issues through his visuals: from nature and the urban, to consumerism and the idealisation of beauty and sexuality, from art versus capitalism to the banality of publicity and celebrity. 

Severino was born and raised in Brazil, but has spent the last twenty years in Europe. He now lives in Cork, Ireland.

Based on our agreement with the artist, 15% of the pre-VAT price excluding frames will be donated to support the social movement. Donation will be given to support Gay Project, Cork.