Victor Adeniran

Vitruvian Man

VICTOR ADENIRAN | MODEL AND PREFORMER | @VICTORINSANDIEGO

Photography & Creative Direction by Anderson Gonzalez | andersongonzalezphotographer

Interview by Charlie Price

So much of your life is about fitness, what do you think the key to staying healthy is?

Wow, I feel like health isn’t just an absence of illness, it’s having balance in most, if not all aspects of one’s life including physical, mental, social, psychological and financial health. But to me, the key is consistency. Doing what gets you healthy over and over until the goal is achieved and understanding that maintaining whatever you have achieved also requires consistency. When it comes to health and fitness most of us stick to certain things for 6 months, 1 year etc., when our bodies last our lifetime. We sometimes choose to do things so drastic and extreme with hopes of only doing it short term yet expecting long terms results. Why isn’t the goal sustainability and longevity? So to me the key is consistency, sustainability and thus longevity.

You are an aerialist, acrobat and dancer, what does it feel like inside as you create these beautiful shapes with your body?

There’s always an urge to create something that conveys my heart and thoughts to whomever is receptive and watching. The process always leaves me exhilarated. I hear some music and I visualize myself flying to it , dancing to it, etc. As a movement artist there’s so much that we say with our bodies. For me, I find it extremely rewarding to push my limits in movement. Whether that’s in dance , aerial, acro etc. - being able to convey a message to the world with no words at all but just movement is extremely fulfilling and beautiful.

You have flawless (and hairless) skin, what is your secret ?

Hilarious question. I hydrate (with water of course), cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize and repeat. Drinking a decent amount of water daily is so important, finding moisturizers that lock in moisture without clogging your pores. Consuming the right amount of vitamin C so your body can produce the amount of collagen needed, since that is the primary purpose of vitamin C. And there you have it.

“Art is and has been one of the greatest forms of protest, enlightenment and beauty.”

You are always doing many creative projects. What do you have “cookin” at the moment ?

Well, I don’t wanna give out too much but three main projects dear to my heart at the moment are: a tour through Europe and North America doing tons of aerial, happening very soon with a company most of us know, and I’ll announce shortly. A residency in Vegas with a company I just shot a promo video for, so that should announce soon as well, and lastly a children's book I’m currently illustrating and almost done with.

You make unapologetically queer art. Can you tell us about your inspiration for these decidedly romantic paintings of yours ?

The message behind my works is “love is love”, but I also know that’s easier said than done when it comes to depicting that through a queer lens. Most people find it to be “shoving my lifestyle in their faces” or “it’s not their kind of art” etc. But to me having an unwavering yet receptive voice as an artist is so important. Art is and has been one of the greatest forms of protest, enlightenment and beauty. I never saw art pieces that show romance and love amongst queer men. I saw tons of works that were homoerotic but sometimes they just end up being phallic. As much as that could be arousing, I do feel like a little bit more representation of queer men who want to enjoy romance and sensuality unapologetically, is my calling. In my opinion, it’s as though many gay men grow up with a sense of self loathing and thinking of their sensuality, sexuality, and love for another gay man is taboo. It makes it hard for some, not all, to express how they actually feel or to fully accept their own sensuality and understand that it is beautiful.

My works are made to send the message that self-love and love for another man is not only beautiful but absolutely normal. It’s not a sin, not a taboo, not a lifestyle that needs justification, but just is… simply love.

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