Photographer Adrian Lourie has been showcasing the undeniable appeal of guy-next-door pin-ups through his zine meat.
There’s been no shortage of men keen to strip down for Lourie’s camera, and he’s amassed a decade’s worth of images of everyday guys who want your attention.
To showcase the men of meat, Lourie has decided to publish a book – it sounds exactly the kind of thing I’d like to add to my reading list.
The 260-page book will include many previously unpublished photographs and new work alongside some of Lourie’s favourite men from back issues of the zine.
I caught up with Lourie for a behind-the-scenes look at what we can expect from the book of meat.
What sort of response have you had so far to the campaign to get the book published?
The response has been amazing, both from the guys who I’ve photographed over the last ten years and from guys who buy the zine.
I truly didn’t realise how much love there is for what I’ve been doing with meat all these years.
It makes me even more excited about getting the book published and out there.
Have you had any challenges with social media censorship when trying to promote the book and your photography?
Well, Instagram and Facebook are a constant challenge when it comes to promoting meat and putting my work out there in general.
It’s a hostile environment for anything that could be described as sensual or erotic, for sure.
I’ve also had problems with fairly innocuous images of guys in their pants.
I maintain the accounts but my heart isn’t in social media at the moment. It seems that it’s largely not LGBTQ friendly – it’s not affirming to sex-positive or body-positive messaging and imaging.
There is a prevailing attitude of censorship and puritan values, which I find completely depressing.
Are there any future meat projects in the pipeline?
Putting the book together and raising funds to publish it has become my full-time job.
I can hardly call it a job though, because I’ve been really enjoying going back through the ten-year meat archive.
I’m seriously considering shooting another naked calendar for 2022 – I guess I miss photographing naked men!
The men of meat
“I’d always loved meatzine – the curation and concept of real people always inspired me…” explains Dev. Dev works in PR and will feature in the book. He was inspired to pose for the zine to celebrate his own body. “It was something I’d loved seeing, never thinking I could be part of it. When I saw the call for men of all shapes and sizes, I plucked up the courage. It was a real opportunity to show how comfortable I am with my own body. “I felt really comfortable posing and found it empowering. I’d always aspired to be in a sexy and fun publication like Meat. The reality was all that and more.”
“It was the first time I’d been photographed naked by anyone other than me…” says Ali, admitting that he was nervous and excited about the prospect of posing for Lourie’s camera. Ali is a Public Engagement Manager from Scotland and will feature in the book. “I’d heard from other guys how much fun it was, and it really was.”
“There isn’t enough celebrating of body-positivity in the broadest sense amongst queer men…” adds Nick from South London. Nick has featured in meat’s naked calendar and will also be making an appearance in the book. “Our bodies are all different and all sexy. I think what Adrian does, which is so fantastic, is to bring out the incredible beauty and sexiness in the men he photographs.”
