The Erotic Awards Exhibition opened at the Night of the Senses on Saturday 6th September 2007, hosted by Alison Lapper MBE.
The exhibition was displayed in a marquee which, on the hot summer night, was beautifully cool and quiet. Because some of the work was highly controversial (specifically the photographs by J.A.M. Montoya and Makan Emadi’s paintings) we had been afraid to open the exhibition in advance. In the event, however, the opening, held at Mass, on an island in central Brixton, was a surprisingly endearing place to be. The ball guests loved it. These are people who love to be shocked and admire quality work that pushes boundaries.
The opening was, as always, a charming affair, with sex workers and striptease artists mingling happily with artists, academics, campaigners, innovators and writers.
Peter Tatchell, finalist writer, was to open the exhibition but was held up. Happily, he did eventually arrive, and was heard to describe the Erotic Awards director, Dr Tuppy Owens, as ‘irrepressible’!
The Little Erotic Cinema showed the finalist films, with the winner, Silken Sleeves, melting the hearts of viewers. Mouse, whose film Let Me Milk You Like a Cow won in the Independent Comedy category, was busy modelling in the fashion show and preparing for her act later in the night.
The finalists were given front seats in the Erotic Awards show. The acts were all treats: Ekaterina, Miss Coney Island 2007, swinging inside a muslin cloth hung from the ceiling, sultry pole dancer Franca, Mat Fraser, who stripped out of his suit and artificial arms and finally showed us his impressive tackle, and Ashley, who astounded everyone by sitting on his collection of ever larger dildos.
After each set, the winners were announced. Beautiful striptease artist, Solitaire, presented, with performance artist Lily Dumont assisting her.
Winners gave us moving responses to their news – J.A.M Montoya could not leave Spain for political reasons, but his girlfriend and model spoke on his behalf. Perhaps the most excited winner was Susie Jolly from the University of Sussex, who influenced the Erotic Awards judges to include academics and politicians in the 2008 Awards categories.
Then the party began. Everywhere were orgies and spankings, but most of all the guests were simply happy, still unable to believe that there is such a nice place to witness erotic adventure. But it wasn’t all red-hot lust: the exhibition gave the night a literary and artistic dimension, and it was especially delightful to overhear discussions on art and politics beside the pool for water sports, while serenaded by world-class harpist Eleanor Turner.