paper boys
In the work of Bart Drost, it is full of boys.
Does this mean that in his studio it is always a going and coming of blushing boys?
No! Nothing is less true.
"His" boys come - depending on whether they are dressed or exposed - from magazines, photo books, sex books, newspapers, from books such as "how do I learn to play football". He draws them, in lines. He enlarges or reduces them. He cuts them out of wood, embroiders them, prints them. The photo's become drawings, images, suits, pillows. "His" boys perform in installations that he composes for them and can be seen at exhibitions he makes for them.
Initially Drost also used real photos of boys in his work, until he realized that he never actually asked them for permission. Just as probably they were asked for permission when they were shown in all kind of magazines.
He collected most of the photos in the early 1980s and he still uses them. At present, each of them would be at least 50 years old in real life. The boys always stay young in Drost's work.