Tongues Out is a vibrant and cheeky series capturing men in a pose familiar to today’s selfie culture—sticking out their tongues. This playful gesture is both humorous and bold, with roots in defiance and self-expression. In each painting, heads pop out from bright, pastel backgrounds, reminiscent of a lively “Whack-A-Mole” game, each figure exuding a spirit that is both irreverent and delightfully human. The tongue here serves as a playful, phallic symbol—an instrument of pleasure and mischief, often hidden due to its association with disapproval or rudeness.
The men in Tongues Out subvert these taboos, using their tongues to express a carefree confidence that resonates with queer culture’s embrace of shameless expression. Yet, the works are universal in their humor, capturing a common impulse to tease, play, and defy in our own unique ways. With striking colors and popping figures, this series is a celebration of shared humanity, showing how a single, silly gesture can encapsulate joy, freedom, and defiance.
2024/25, acrylic/gouache on canvas, diamond 33.75″ X 33.75″ X 1.5″, square 20″ X 20″ X 1.5″ on linen, 25.375″ X 23.375″ X 1.5″
JosephAbbati.art 
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