TOUCH ME 2 (series)
2018
The Duality of the Silent Plea
The title of this series, Touch Me 2, carries a profound linguistic weight that mirrors the internal landscape of the subjects. It functions as both a numerical observation of the pair and a visceral, adverbial cry: "I, too, deserve to be touched." This duality addresses the historical and social isolation often felt by men and boys navigating their discovery of bisexual or gay identities. Arjan Spannenburg captures the exact moment where the fear of societal judgment meets the undeniable urgency of human desire. The works document the courage required to reach out when the world has taught one to remain distant.
Universalism Through the Absence of Colour
By deliberately removing colour, Spannenburg strips the narrative of contemporary signifiers and distractions. The series becomes a study of pure emotion rather than a record of specific physical traits. Without the context of skin tone, hair colour, or the fleeting trends of the day, the images achieve a timeless, museal quality. This aesthetic choice ensures that the viewer focuses entirely on the haptic experience: the tension in a shoulder, the soft pressure of a forehead, and the emerging hope found in a first embrace. It is a visual language that speaks to the universal soul, transcending the individual to represent the collective journey of self-discovery and the reclamation of intimacy.
An Authentic Path of Recognition
Unlike works that lean on historical tropes, Touch Me 2 emerges from a deeply personal space. It’s born from Spannenburg’s own discovery path and his intuitive recognition of these same budding emotions in a younger generation. This gives the series an unmistakable sense of truth and authority. The series doesn’t seek to idealise; instead, it honours the "scary" side of intimacy the hesitation, the vulnerability, and the eventual relief of being seen. In the context of high-end art collections, these pieces serve as vital cultural markers of the evolving masculine experience, offering a narrative of hope and discovery that is as conceptually rigorous as it is emotionally raw.
