ART: A Look Inside "I Love You Like Mirrors Do" by Coyote Parks.

River, a Daydream, 2022 by Coyote Park

Coyote Park's lens captures more than just moments; it captures the essence of love, intimacy, and togetherness. Their latest exhibition, "I Love You Like Mirrors Do," is currently captivating audiences at the esteemed Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in New York City. The exhibition, part of the museum's Interventions series, invites LGBTQIA+ artists to explore the extensive collection established by Charles Leslie and Fritz Lohman, pioneers in showcasing homoerotic art and preserving the work of AIDS victims.

To Make a Home with Em, 2022 by Coyote Park

Curated by Stamatina Gregory, "I Love You Like Mirrors Do" presents Coyote Park's exploration of the museum's archive through their photography. Guided by the theme of pairs, Coyote delved into their own experiences, drawing inspiration from the diverse range of objects in the collection. Their photography practice, honed over a decade, began in the vibrant world of Oahu's nightlife and later evolved in the bustling streets of New York City. For Coyote, photography serves as a medium of cocooning, a way to create a sanctuary within the frame, shielding the outside world.

In this exhibition, Coyote's photographs intertwine seamlessly with the existing collection, resulting in a captivating visual dialogue. Their images, influenced by the museum's works, pay homage to the past while representing their modern-day polycule, a constellation of polyamorous relationships. The exhibition carefully avoids a direct one-to-one comparison, allowing viewers to appreciate the complementary narratives that emerge between the pieces. “As a Two-spirit, Indigenous (Yurok), Korean-American artist, Park works to expand the spectrum of queer representation, noting that “we are always looking for ourselves in art.” They embrace photography’s unique capacity for world-building: the single frame that still photography affords the viewer hovers in time, documenting ephemera and energetic connections between the artist’s past lovers, current partners, and those they hold close,” writes Meer. 

Secret Cove with bones by Coyote Park.

Lovers II, 2002 by Marion Pinto

Private Album no. 36, 2007 2009 by Luigi & Luca

"I Love You Like Mirrors Do" challenges traditional portraiture by embracing the participatory nature of the subjects. Through their lens, Coyote captures moments of joy, love, and peace, countering the prevailing narrative that often focuses on the struggles faced by marginalised communities. The exhibition invites viewers to witness the beauty and resilience found in queer relationships, both past and present.

The exhibition runs until July 16 at the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art.

Images courtesy of Coyote Park and Leslie Lohman Museum.