Sam Hamper’s first-ever exhibition entitled The Denied Masculine plunges straight into the controversy over toxic masculinity, stereotypical gender roles and the range of emotions that men and boys can express.

“I hear this a lot,” said Sam. “I don’t think it is controversial but talking about anything important is seen as controversial these days.”

He goes on. “While I’m open to criticism I do think there is a positive form of masculinity that could help everyone in these difficult times. Man or woman. Bottling up is awful but so are free flowing histrionics – and maybe we are seeing more of the latter on social media?

“With gender roles converging and terms like masculinity and femininity increasingly unlinked from sex I think there is a need for all of us to really understand the positive traits of both.

Oxford Mail: Affection WoodcutsAffection Woodcuts

“I fear in trying to paint about masculinity that people think that I have some strong opinion on it, the fact is I haven’t got a clue, I just don’t understand what’s going on at the moment, that’s why I’m painting about it.”

Sam, 34, who lives in Kennington and has a studio in Cowley, has a degree in mechanical engineering but worked in youth arts and then as a film-maker, mainly in events. That ground to a halt last year and with no work and ineligible for government support, he used the early lockdown to make an eerie and beautiful film called Empty Oxford which did the rounds on social media.

Last October he sold the footage to a company making a documentary about the Oxford vaccine, freeing him up from money worries for the last few months of 2020. He had always loved making art but rebelled against his arty family by not choosing it as a career.

“However,” he said, “at 34 I have to admit that it’s my absolute passion, it just took a global pandemic to show me.”

The death of his gran, the end of a relationship but finding a topic that really interested him – “the noise around masculinity” – inspired what would become his first exhibition, which is online now.

“Most online shows are AWFUL,” he said. “Nothing beats in person so I worked really hard at making the experience as pleasing as possible with video and commentary along the way.” 

Oxford Mail: Talk is cheapTalk is cheap

The former Cherwell School pupil, who grew up in Cutteslowe, is also halfway through his next body of work for an exhibition scheduled for May 23 focused on nature.

He admits his work is heavily influenced by Francis Bacon. “Yes, I love Bacon. Other influences are the forms of Klimt but mainly lots of the German Expressionists.”

But he adds: “I’m fairly convinced that no artist can exactly say what they are doing. When I’ve heard poets or musicians talk about the concepts that sparked their work it often does not fit with how I received it.

Oxford Mail: Sam Harper in his studioSam Harper in his studio

“We are all comfortable with what we understand but the best art tells a story about something we don’t understand, that’s why we have different interpretations.”

Go to samhamper.com for the Empty Oxford video and exhibition.

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