WITH THE GROWING ANTI LGBTQIA SENTIMENT SPREADING IN THE UNITED STATES, THE APHRODISIAC KITCHEN COVERED UP IMAGES THAT REMIND US OF THE QUEER COMMUNITIES PAIN. ANDREAS JOSHUA CARVER OF TAK SOURCED 80 SECONDHAND T-SHIRTS WITH IMAGERY THAT ALIGNS WITH SYSTEMS THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY FOUGHT AGAINST LGBT+ RIGHTS. EACH TEE IS UNIQUE. THE ORIGINAL GRAPHICS VARY IN THEIR MESSAGE, BUT EITHER WAY, EACH ELICITED A VISCERAL REACTION. THE TITLE OF EACH SHIRT ALLUDES TO WHAT HAS BEEN COVERED UP WITH A VINTAGE BDSM ILLUSTRATION. THIS BOLD IMAGE IS A REMINDER THAT WE HAVE THE POWER TO REWRITE HISTORY, WHILE ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE BOUND TO THIS SYSTEM.

TAK WAS INSPIRED BY THE WHEAT PASTINGS THAT FRAME NEW YORK CITY STREETS AND ADOPTED THE SAME IDEA TO THIS COLLECTION OF WORK.

IN UNISON, THE APHRODISIAC KITCHEN EXPLORES THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE POLITICAL TEE. TAK CHALLENGES THE PERFORMATIVE NATURE OF POLITICAL SLOGAN TOPS BY SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED LABOR PRACTICES IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY. BY REPURPOSING VINTAGE SHIRTS, TAK AIMS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEMATIC SUPPLY CHAINS ASSOCIATED WITH MASS-PRODUCED CLOTHING. IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW YOUR “FUCK THE PATRIARCHY” TEE WAS MADE OR WHO MADE IT, I THINK IT’S SAFE TO SAY IT LIKELY CONTRIBUTED TO THAT VERY SYSTEM YOU’RE HOPING TO FIGHT.

ANDREAS JOSHUA CARVER