Simon Welsh

Sunshine Coast National Art Prize 2025 - Finalist

_{Image courtesy of the artist}

Artist Statement

Bed Head is from a series of works I created that delves into queer hookup culture and it’s prevalence within some queer spaces including my own. This series is a personal documentation of meetups that I have experienced where anonymity, discretion and vulnerability are often navigated and mediated to form a connection. Queer men often have to navigate the culture of hookups and anonymous sex to forge connections within queer spaces. 

The work appears nameless, faceless and is delicately sewn together – to match the experience some may feel within the world of quick sexual exchanges. The body in Bed Head sits vulnerable but defiant, strong in ones sexuality and congress but delicately held together. I wanted to capture that under all the bravado and machismo sit delicate queer bodies wanting love and affection and to be seen.