Twisted Men

I admit rather than the artistic quality of it, the first thing that attracts me to Robert Longo’s “Men in the Cities” series is, well, the men. Everything from their lean figure to their clothes, particularly their white shirts.
No matter how twisted they appear they end up looking ‘cool.’ Their lines, formed by the torso, arms and visible legs, are neat, clean.
The women have a much harder time.
To be frank, I don’t like how they look. Perhaps because of their skirts and dresses their figures seem uncomfortable and not as elegant and fluidic as the male ones.
The first time I saw one of Longo’s twisted men –I like to call them that- of course I didn’t know it was part of a much larger series. I don’t recall where or what I had gone to see, but I do remember his work wasn’t the focus of the exhibition. The twisted man of his that I saw that day is still my favorite one. It’s one of the untitled ones from 1981. I remember thinking “cool.” But I didn’t take the time to reflect on what I meant by that or the real reasons why I thought it.
Now, looking at them again, I still can’t quite define it. It gives me a sense of freedom and flexibility, ironically, two qualities I doubt very much office men like these have in real life.

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