DNA Magazine | #252 – America Is Back

This month we look at the Biden-Harris election win and ask what it will mean for LGBTQIA+ people in the USA and around the world. We celebrate the “Rainbow Wave” of representatives elected across the country, and we have an in-depth interview with Democratic representative Brian Sims – the sexy face LGBTQIA+ politics in the US. His insights are revealing and surprising.

Our cover model is Ryan Daharsh – who was last on the cover in 2009! He’s a dad now – but that’s no dad bod! We catch up with Ryan and photographer Jade Young for a little “Cover Shoot Confidential”. What’s Ryan been up to since 2009? What’s the shocking story behind the shoot?

In the mood for all things USA, we showcase some of our favourite American brands and the hot men who wear them. There’s some old favourites and some young guns, too.

In Australia, we spend time at the studio of actor/artist Tim Draxl. He tells us about his lockdown experience, how painting helped him through the crisis, and all about his new stage role in Chorus Line, his new TV show The Newsreader and the action film he’s shooting with Liam Neeson in Melbourne.

We also meet queer Brit feature film director Francis Lee. He tells us about his modern gay classic, God’s Own Country and shooting his newie, Ammonite.

We discover the Sacred Band Of Thebes, also known as the Army Of Lovers from ancient Greek history. They were a fighting force of homosexual male partners who helped rule the ancient world.

In fashion, we frolic on the beach with the boys from Rude Rainbow. And get kinky with Adam in Adidas.

All this plus your favourite regular columns.

Her name is Julia, his name is Vincent. They met almost 10 years ago, and have been creating together for 5 years. ‘Erotish’ is an exercise in style, inspired by the aesthetics of the 1980s. Nostalgic for a time when “everything seemed positive, carefree, and where aesthetics were the priority”, the photographers play with retro codes, a few clothes in satin, naked bodies on motorcycles, a subtle blurry effect… But far from producing a vulgar sexy collection, or merely copy and pasting a certain aesthetic, the duo reclaims to modernize this aesthetic. (Cyrielle Gendron for Photo fr)

Julia Stoltz is an art director, photographer and director, living and working in Paris. Together with Vincent Girardot she forms the creative duo Julia & Vincent. As an artist duo they look for the artificial in our daily life.

Published by Art Paper Editions,

design and edit: Jurgen Maelfeyt

23,5x31cm, 80 pages, ills colour / b&w, paperback

edition of 700

About Elska 30 (Sidney, Australia):

‘Elska Sydney’ is our thirtieth issue, which also marks five years of the Elska project. For this landmark edition we decided to make our second trip to Australia, following one of our most popular ever editions ‘Elska Perth’. This time we decided to invite our readers to select which Aussie city to choose, and Sydney was the winner (Melbourne came a close second - they're time will come one day).

It's no surprise that we'd eventually spotlight Sydney. As one of the world's ‘big gay capitals’, famous in particular for perhaps the world's biggest pride celebration Mardi Gras, it's also one of the most beautiful settings of any city on the planet. However, our arrival came right at the end of one of the worst ever summers of bushfires, making the sky a strange dirty colour (which is visible in several of the images here), and right at the very beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm of the men we met here could not be quashed, as they were keen to show us their city. Elska is rather known for its honesty, and here is one of the most honest issues of all, with stories that reveal what's great and what could be better about Sydney, and images that show lots of beautiful perfections and not just that Bondi Beach kind of gloss.

Inside ‘Elska Sydney’ you'll meet around a dozen ordinary local lads who we happened to meet on our trip. We photographed them in their homes and in their neighbourhoods, revealing their personalities and their bodies via intimate photography (shot by us) and personal stories (written by each of the men). Some of the Aussie boys you'll get to know here include:

• Stephen G, who shares his take on a rather universal story of a small-town boy choosing between a free but trying life in the city or a discreet but simple life in the country;

• Rhett P, who looks back at a perfect relationship that came to an end and wonders if he can ever find something so beautiful, especially after the countless disappointing dating experiences had a trans man in this city;

• Gary P, who talks about the ‘multiple personalities’ he comes to perform as a brown person in a city that can act much whiter than it actually is;

• Timur S, who guides us through his whirlwind wedding celebrations, an endeavour that he and his husband impulsively threw together in the space of a few days;

• Dan C, who recalls some of his first experiences with public nudity and shares how nakedness has been the basis of much joy in his life;

• Mart B, who tells us about the long road he's gone with coming to terms with his body and gender, a journey that still continues but gets ever closer to a destination of acceptance

 

Details and Specs:

‘Elska Sydney’ is 196 pages. The print version is 170mm x 240mm (approx 6.7 x 9.4 in), full colour, sewn-bound, offset-printed, and on 130gsm (90lb) internal matte paper and 280gsm (110lb) textured coated coverage paper with flaps. One random Elska Collectors' Postcard is inserted inside.

Includes texts in English and Russian (followed by English translations where applicable).

About Elska 26 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania):

Elska Pittsburgh is our twenty-sixth issue and also our third edition made in the USA, following our series in Providence (Rhode Island) and Los Angeles (California). If this isn't a city you know much about, then you should. The queer scene of ‘Steel City’ is one of the most diverse and up-and-coming in the country. The city as well has been flourishing of late, filling disused warehouses and broken factories with artists’ studios, independent bars and restaurants, and revitalisation projects that so far have been keen to maintain the town's true character. On the surface you might be reminded of a Shoreditch or a Brooklyn, but minus the hipster pretensions or snobbishness. Pittsburgh is truly welcoming, and it's truly a revelation.

The men we met in Pittsburgh were enthusiastic about their city and they were also especially keen to share their bodies and voices with us, totally open and unfettered by shyness. This means a larger than usual amount of stories dealing with sex, such as a loving tribute to polyamory, an explicit ode to a weekend-long orgy amongst friends, and even a piece about watching porn in a public café with old ladies cheekily leering along!

Whether you've been to Pittsburgh, are planning to go, or even if you have no interest whatsoever in touring the Rust Belt, this issue belongs in your collection. It's truly an exemplar Elska issue that does what we do best - sparking curiosity, opening minds, and titillating just a little bit. Or in this case, a little bit more. Ooh, aah!*

Features images of / stories from: Jerome “Chu” C, Ricky M, Jayvon T, Christian C, Tom C, Brett S, Will T Jr, Elí A, Kevin K, Indigo C, and Jan-Tosh G; plus our Q&A feature with Eric H.

We also recommend ordering Elska Ekstra Pittsburgh, available separately or in the bundle, to also meet: Varun S, Kevin T, Brian O, and Edwin N.

*Apologies for the probably over-the-heads Gina G reference.

Details and Specs:

Elska Pittsburgh is 192 pages. The print version is 170mm x 240mm (approx 6.7 x 9.4 in), full colour, sewn-bound, offset-printed, and on 130gsm (90lb) internal matte paper and 280gsm (110lb) textured coated coverage paper with flaps. One random Elska Collectors' Postcard is inserted inside.

About Elska 04 (Lisbon, Portugal):

This edition was made in Lisbon, Portugal. Truly one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, it makes a great contrast following the colder, more northern settings of the previous three issues: Reykjavík, Berlin, and Lviv. The warmer colour palettes, the sea, the hills, the crumbling old buildings and cobbled streets all bring a fresh look for the Elska collection. Of course the men are beautiful too, and inside you'll meet a cross-section of a dozen local boys of various backgrounds, styles and ages who we happened to meet on our trip here. Each is shot in the city or in their homes; in their own clothes or no clothes at all; without contrived styling, airbrushing and over photoshopping. It's part of the Elska goal to be authentic and honest. The stories too are honest, as each boy's photospread is accompanied by a personal story, making the experience all the more intimate and aiming to make you feel like you're right there visiting Lisbon with them. 

Originally released in 2016, this edition has been completely remade for this new 2021 edition. This means lots of previously unpublished images from the vaults, a couple extra boys who weren't in the original edition, a new story by Julien P, and all in our bigger and more beautiful modern format.

Includes stories in English, Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese (all followed by English translations where applicable)

Features images of / stories from: Daniel T, Matheus G, Paulo L, Ricardo V, André G, Daniel R, Jorge B, Miguel G, Pedro C, Julien P, Luis L, Ruben S

We also recommend ordering the companion zine ‘Elska Ekstra Lisbon’, available separately or as part of the “bundle” to get 308 pages of behind the scenes tales, loads of outtakes, extra stories, and nine extra boys like: Adrian L, Chris C, Luis R, Miguel LC, Miguel A, Ivaylo L, Quentin V, Dario P, Vasco Q, plus two stories by Romain Butti

Details and Specs:

‘Elska Lisbon’ is 180 pages. The print version is 170mm x 240mm (approx 6.7 x 9.4 in), full colour, sewn-bound, offset-printed, and on 130gsm (90lb) internal matte paper and 280gsm (110lb) textured coated coverage paper with flaps. One random Elska Collectors' Postcard is inserted inside.

About Elska 28 (Amsterdam, Netherlands):

Elska Amsterdam is our twenty-eighth issue and our first made in the Netherlands. This is one of the most popular cities to visit in the world, and the Netherlands has long been lauded for its support of LGBTQ rights, being the first country in the world to embrace same-sex marriage. Amsterdam is also one of our most requested cities to feature, and we're excited to finally present it to you.

Inside this issue you'll meet a selection of gay Amsterdammers who have shared their bodies and stories with us. If you're expecting a bunch of images of lads in tulip fields dotted with windmills, wearing clogs and smoking, then you'll be disappointed. Our approach rather is gloriously ordinary - just a bunch of local gay, bi and queer men photographed walking around their neighbourhoods dressed in their own style and then in their own homes undressed. You will still see a lot of canals though, and maybe a bag of chips (erm, Vlaamse frites) - it is Amsterdam after all.

Each of the men we met has also his photospread accompanied by a person story, written by the subject himself. Some of the stories in this issue include: Arthur T's text about trying to let go of the perfection obsession in Insta-society; George E's story about being a new arrival in the country and being made to feel wholly unwelcome through an onslaught of passive aggressive comments and looks; Alex L's tale of a long flirtation of a dancer who once asked on Grindr to use his bathtub; Soek Z's piece about sex with an older man; and Rodrigo T's call for all to get naked.

Features images of / stories from: Blake S, Arnie M, Arthur T, Qian H, Soek Z, Rodrigo T, George E, Ran M, Jacques K, Alex L, Nick M, and Henri B.

We also recommend ordering Elska Ekstra Amsterdam, available as part of the “bundle” , for loads of outtakes, behind the scenes tales, and to meet the following additional Amsterdam boys: Andrés L, Miguel M, and “Anonymous OC Boy”.

Details and Specs:

Elska Amsterdam is 196 pages. The print version is 170mm x 240mm (approx 6.7 x 9.4 in), full colour, sewn-bound, offset-printed, and on 130gsm (90lb) internal matte paper and 280gsm (110lb) textured coated coverage paper with flaps. One random Elska Collectors' Postcard is inserted inside.

Donovan

by Elio

DNA Magazine | #251 – Dive In

This issue features Colombian actor/model Diego Arnary on the cover and in 10 sizzling pages inside. Diego fills out a selection of the latest swim, gym and party wear extremely well in our hot, wet photoshoot by Christian Scott.

In other photography portfolios we head to The Canary Islands with Gonzalo and a jockstrap, and we discover Indian body builder Sarvasheesh, plus we present The Best Of Blake Yelavich and his hot models who made 2020 worthwhile!

We also take a sharp look at the dumpster fire that was 2020 and recall some of the low- and highlights of a year with many!

There’s an interview with the delightful Lily Tomlin and a hunky pop star who tells us “my butt popped out!”

In our HIV Today series we hear from three inspirational guys who are fighting stereotypes and stigma around HIV. Their stories are revealing and insightful and a must-read.

Shannon Molloy is the author of the harrowing-yet-hopeful Fourteen, a best-selling gay teen memoir that’s on its way to a screen adaptation soon. He talks to us about the real-life experiences that inspired the book.

Sexy sports commentator Tony Armstrong is our Straight Mate, health guru Luke Hines talks about the benefits of coming out, Kyler O’Neal talks music and why transphobia is never okay, we go travelling in the time of covid, and get “shameless and shirtless” with Alius.

It’s a jam-packed issue, readers!

DNA Magazine | #250 – The 20th Anniversary Issue

Happy 250th to us! This month, DNA celebrates not just a milestone issue but our 20th anniversary. That’s 20 years of finding the best stories and hottest guys in the world to share with our readers.

Naturally, we have jam-packed the issue with tons of DNA’s Hottest, and some new shoots, but we also present 2020 Vision – a look back at two decades of LGBTIQ challenges and triumphs.

Also in this issue, we have a long chat with Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and talk Hollywood, activism and fatherhood with his hubby, Tom Daley.

We also speak with hunky-actor-on-the-rise, Charlie Carver, one of the new generation of fearless out-and-proud gay actors.

Meet Dads Mayo, the Sydney electronic duo who know they are the next big thing (and that their name is kinda gross!)

Our Straight Mate is Rufskin’s model and muse, Logan Swieck-Taylor, who tells us what it’s like being a straight undie model in a gay, gay world!

Plus, enigmatic pop star Bright Light Bright Light talks, music, politics, causes, Elton and, of course, swimwear!

Out cover model is Julian Gabriel from Miami. It’s his second DNA cover and we think you’ll see why we’re very happy t have him back.

In our second shoot, you may recognise model Manuel Kornisiuk from his work with Teamm8 and Rude Rainbow. We have him in a six-page story as a thirsty sailor on shore leave!

All your favourite regular columns – Books, Music, Streaming, Month In A Minute, Fight Club and Gay To Z are all here, too. Happy reading.

Yummy is a limited-edition luxury print book, dedicated to the art of photography. With a twist for all those that love a ‘Yummy’ man.

The main cover, Pietro Boselli, Photographed exclusively for Yummy by Giampaolo Sgura 23 pages of pleasure.

non essential #4

The non essential zine series continues. 52 pages of velvet paper. All killer no filler content!

non essential #3

The non essential zine series continues. 52 pages of velvet paper. All killer no filler content!

BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! magazine
Collectors Edition Vol 1
Published 26 January 2021

The world's first fine art photography magazine dedicated to queer and gay photography - ad free

Volume 1 features ten photographers from ten countries: Alex Avgud (Russia), Domenico Cennamo (Italy), Michael Epps (USA), Serge Le Hidalgo (Spain), Matheus Katayama (Brazil), Krzysztof Marchlak (Poland), Paul McDonald (UK), Niv Shank (Israel), Michael Søndergaard (Denmark), and Tyler Udall (Canada)

Odiseo Volume 13 The Last Supper was born from the unlucky number 13 – Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th to sit at the table. Born from this superstition, we look at how acts of treachery in many ways define the world we live in. Cheating, deceiving, cowardice – betrayal is almost entirely born out of trust, or love. Without one, the other does not exist. Revealing secrets, breaking a pact, a stab in the back, an act of revenge. We find shelter in the shadow of disloyalty; a thrill in the fear of discovery. The concept is timeless and inherently human, present throughout our history right up to the present day.

In-between body and mind, book and magazine

Combining erotic imagery with insightful texts and crossing the boundaries between books and magazines, Odiseo defines itself as a hybrid. With Odiseo, we don’t seek to publish current normative content, but focus on the extended present, retaining the periodicity but doing away with the obsolete. This complex and contradictory nature shaped Odiseo as a small, bi-annual hardcover publication. Moving away from the tradition of magazine mass consumption, Odiseo is a publication to be appreciated and read without pressure. It deserves quality time invested into its content.

QUEER SEX—whatever the fuck you want! ist eine Ode an die Vielfältigkeit der Menschen, ihrer Körper und alles was zwischen ihnen passiert. Es geht um queeren Sex: Zeigen, erzählen, anregen, erregen... Im Dezember 2020 erscheint die Publikation in Erstauflage.

Viele queere Jugendliche – aber auch Erwachsene – haben tausend Fragezeichen zur Sexualität. Nützliche Antworten finden sie selten: Was sich im Internet googlen lässt, hat oft zweifelhafte Qualität. Häufig sind die Infos ungenau, verklausuliert oder moralisch. Florian Vock, Mitherausgeber und langjähriger Aktivist: «Es fehlt eine popkulturelle, sexpositive und ehrliche Thematisierung von Sexualität für junge queere Menschen. Wir schliessen die Lücke zwischen heteronormativer Schulaufklärung und unrealistischen Pornos; also dort, wo eigentlich das Leben stattfindet.»

In QUEER SEX—whatever the fuck you want! werden Praktiken und Tipps geschildert. Erklärungen zu Begriffen finden darin Platz und werden ohne moralische Distanz, sondern konkret, persönlich und ehrlich beschrieben. Dabei werden wichtige Hinweise zur körperlichen Integrität, zu gesetzlichen Regelungen und zur sexuellen Gesundheit normalisiert. Anna Rosenwasser, Mitherausgeberin: «Endlich eine richtig dicke Publikation über diejenige Art von Sexualität, die Tausende queerer Menschen in der Schweiz schon längst leben – die aber noch immer kaum gezeigt wird.»

QUEER SEX—whatever the fuck you want! bearbeitet auf 160 Seiten collagenartig zentrale Themen im Kontext queerer Sexualität. Die Publikation ist weder Nachschlagewerk noch Hochglanzmagazin, sondern vermittelt die Alltäglichkeit von Fragen zur Sexualität und macht Lust auf Sex, keine Angst davor – gerade darum, weil auch schwierige, kritische und komplizierte Punkte angesprochen werden. Die drei künstlerischen Herangehensweisen (Bild, Text, Illustration) führen als roter Faden durch die Themen und zeichnen sich durch eine starke Autor*innenschaft aus.

QUEER SEX—whatever the fuck you want!
ISBN 978-3-033-08178-9
160 Seiten, farbig, 17 × 24 cm, Broschur
CHF 15.-
Verkauf und Weitergabe ab 16 Jahren in der
Schweiz, ab 18 Jahren in Deutschland und
Österreich

Mirage No.5 Voyage Lumière

Voyage Lumière. Sometimes we need to decide how we want to travel: through space, or through light. Travel, for example, to the sheer luminosity of childhood summers, to the majesty of the sun setting in the Mediterranean. This issue of Mirage explores how light is in a constant flux. We can’t know a place alone, we know it under a certain light, and that changes everything. This issue of Mirage is an invitation to appreciate not how bodies and landscapes are illuminated, but rather how light manifests itself in a much more profound way. A sensorial journey that will take us to Capri, Formentera or Bali, to glimpses of the present made from bright bits of the past, or of dreams we had forgotten.

Lust Surrender

Lust Surrender is my second book of photography, containing work from 2017 up to pre covid 2020. The book has a soft cover and 144 pages of velvet paper. Layout design was done by Elias Karniaris. Foreword text "Towards an orificial notion of sex and photography in the practice of Spyros Rennt" was written by Selin Davasse.

non essential #2

Second from 2 new zines from 2020. 52 pages of velvet paper. More killer content!

non essential #1

First from 2 new zines from 2020. 52 pages of velvet paper. All killer no filler content!

Mal Nº 5: Sex Negative

On anti-erotics and sexual pessimism in four essays, two stories and thirteen poems. Featuring illustrations by John Slade.

First published: August 2020

This issue of Mal Journal considers a range of ideas, from heterofatalism and the incel phenomenon to ongoing intersections between sex, violence and objectification. It features essays by Stoya, Philip Maughan, Sophie Lewis and Sasha Bonét, new fiction by Diane Williams and Kathryn Scanlan, and poetry by Wayne Koestenbaum, Kim Moore, Lara Mimosa Montes and Sam Riviere. 

Mal Nº 4: Real Girls

On projection in three stories, four poems and a sequence of poems. Featuring illustrations by Birdie Hall.

First published: October 2019

This issue of Mal Journal considers projection, transgression and adolescence, bringing together texts that challenge received notions of innocence and moral reasoning. It features new fiction by Chris Kraus, Luke Brown and Natasha Stagg, poetry by Rachel Long and a sequence of poems by Sasha Dugdale.

Mal Nº 2: Made in Heaven

On transcendence in two essays, a short story and four poems. Featuring illustrations by Franz Lang.

First published: January 2019

This issue of Mal features Fiona Alison Duncan on a legal case interrogating the blurred lines between sex work and spiritual practice, a personal essay on trans pleasure by Gabrielle Bellot, a short story on the volatility of mortal love by Sheila Heti and a series of poems by Mary Ruefle.

Mal Nº 1: That Obscure Object

On desire and its objects in two essays, a short story and three poems. Featuring illustrations by Ana Kirova.

First published: November 2018

The inaugural of Mal Journal features an essay by Anne Boyeron infatuation and literary creativity (from Dante's obsession with Beatrice to Chris Kraus's with Dick); an essay by Juliet Jacques on écriture trans-féminine (trans writing as genre); a short story by Saskia Vogel; and poetry by Eileen Myles.