Stuart Sandford

A commissioned work, the Ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. The name originates from within Greek language; (oura) meaning "tail" and (boros) meaning "eating", thus "he who eats the tail".

The Ouroboros represents the perpetual cyclic renewal of life and infinity, the concept of eternity and the eternal return, and represents the cycle of life, death and rebirth, leading to immortality, as in the Phoenix. The current mathematical symbol for infinity - may be derived from a variant on the classic Ouroboros with the snake looped once before eating its own tail.

Utilising state-of-the-art 3D scanning and printing techniques combined with classical approaches and materials, this work exists in three versions: epoxy resin and 24k gold leaf; polished stainless steel; and cast bronze with patina.

Sebastian is a unique 8 foot (243 cm) stainless steel statue created using state of the art 3D scanning and printing technology, marrying together the ancient and the contemporary in process and concept. Taking its main inspirations from the Greco-Roman depictions of the boy/god Antinous, the Christian saint and martyr Saint Sebastian, and the myth of Narcissus, all coupled with the current obsession with the "selfie”, this major work is both an exploration of contemporary representations of the masculine form and a comment on the icon and its place in contemporary culture.

The work also exists in numerous further incarnations (including an augmented reality version via SnapChat) echoing the obsession of Emperor Hadrian (Antinous' lover) who, upon the death of the boy, commissioned more sculptures and likenesses of him than any other figure in classical times and deified him into a god.

Polaroid works taken in and around Los Angeles throughout 2017. 10.7 x 8.8 cm each, signed and dated on verso, unique. A limited edition artist book was published of these works on November 1st 2017.

The Sluggard (After Leighton)
2014
Painted aluminium, stainless steel
20 x 10.6 x 6.6 in / 50 x 27 x 17 cm
Unique +2APs

A commission to make a 50 x 27 x 17 cm aluminium statue using the same process as Sebastian. The inspiration came from a life-size bronze statue from 1885 entitled The Sluggard by Frederic Leighton of the "perfect" male body.

A suite of forty-two unique Polaroids taken whilst artist-in-residence at Tom of Finland Foundation in Echo Park, Los Angeles in 2014. 10.7 x 8.8 cm each, signed and dated on verso.

Cumfaces
12 colour photographs
Dimensions variable

A series of 12 selfies each submitted by the model via an open call taken on the brink of orgasm.

An ongoing photographic and film project documenting urban and rural public spaces where men have sex with men.