Photographer: Mati Gelman

Models: Asher Gelman, Jeremy Moineau, Yuting Jin, Grasshopper, Ty Talley, Mati Gelman

Hair & Makeup: Matthew Drohan

Censorship has always existed. There have always been forces acting to sup- press, silence, and stifle voices and ideas deemed dangerous, particularly in art.

Throughout history, human sexuality has been heavily censored, particularly by religion, as a means of control. Even in the internet picture language, emoji, there are no symbols that directly relate to human sexuality or sex organs, de- spite the fact that there are plenty of emoji relating to babies and pregnancy.

The lack of these symbols forced its users to repurpose preexisting emoji, mostly fruits and vegetables, to be able to discuss sex and sexuality in this new language, in the same way that artists have done for centuries; through the delicate, intricate, and suggestive usage of symbols.This series highlights our collective pressure to depict and discuss these themes covertly; finding subversive ways to explore our eroticism while adhering to imposed guidelines.