Soft proclivities

Ruhala, Elijah

Item

Soft proclivities

Ruhala, Elijah

Date

2025-05-06

Abstract

This Master of Fine Arts thesis exhibition, Soft Proclivities, examines how spatial interventions challenge traditional modes of representation. By situating the queer body within immersive environments, the work disrupts rigid narratives of identity and visibility. Drawing from historical and contemporary practices, the research investigates how materiality, scale, and site-responsive strategies contribute to an expanded queer aesthetic. The inquiry also considers societal expectations of masculinity, using construction-based methodologies to explore themes of labor, structure, and embodiment. Through a synthesis of painting and installation, this project proposes a new framework for understanding queer figuration—one that moves beyond the canvas into lived, participatory space.