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Related: About this forumArtist Spotlight: Elisar von Kupffer's Gay Eden
http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/artist-spotlight/2012/05/12/artist-spotlight-elisar-von-kupffers-gay-edenElisar von Kupffer (1872-1942) dedicated his life to a spiritual vision of a perfect world of male love. Most of his writing, art, and painting supported his utopian view of a dreamy youthful bonding between men in an idyllic setting.
To be sure, men of his social standing in life were permitted greater freedom and self-expression. Focusing on the quasi-intellectual side of his philosophy Klarismus (clarity) gave his somewhat campy, if not kooky version of a perfect world the safe patina of religion. It was a dreamy world of harmony, eros, and androgynous aesthetics.
He established himself as a muralist in Locarno, Switzerland, with his partner, Eduard von Mayerm and together they created the Sanctuarium Artis Elisarion, a combination museum, temple, and artistic retreat in their villa at the Lake Maggiore.
In the center of the villa is a round room that houses his heroic mural Klarwelt der Seligen. The painting depicts 84 nude, youthful men in various states of ethereal ecstasy and affection. There is a series of poems for each grouping and panel of the mural.
Arafrodite
Self-portrait as Prinz Carneval
A panel from Klarwelt der Seligen
A panel from Klarwelt der Seligen
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Artist Spotlight: Elisar von Kupffer's Gay Eden (Original Post)
xchrom
May 2012
OP
Call Me Wesley
(38,187 posts)1. Shame on me I never visited the museum,
since it's in my neighborhood, but I also haven't visited yet the grave of Erich Maria Remarque and Paulette Goddard, as well as the other places which were once very vibrant in Locarno/Ascona around 1900. It was an exile for a variety of artists and others. Cultural life was rich within them, and social life very liberal. There was a huge nudist colony, too.
Given that this happened in a very rural, very catholic environment, they were not very welcomed by the natives, but it made the place what it is today and brought a lot of money to a then rather poor state, where the natives were mostly small farmers.
Thanks for posting that!
xchrom
(108,903 posts)3. Locarno area is a place I've always wanted to see.
Let me know if you ever make it there.
William769
(55,146 posts)2. Unfortunately the apple has been bitten here.
Recommended.