"I wanted to create images of sexual joy, and the format of the wall calendar seemed perfect - an everyday object to remind us of the joy our sexuality can bring us every day of the year"
Synonymous with glamour, maximalist design and ornate hand-embellishment, creative activist Ashish Gupta has injected his vibrant colour and personality into the London fashion scene since being discovered by Browns Focus in 2001. Originally from Delhi (India), where he studied fine art before moving to London for an MA in fashion design at Central Saint Martins, Ashish's work considers politically-charged messages and social landscapes via hand embroidery and artisan tradition. The London-based designer - a pioneering voice in an industry continually questioning its approach to diversity - has grown his eponymous label from winning the prestigious NEWGEN award three times, to being exhibited in the V&A and The Met.
Wall Calendars are like cruising, a dying art.
House of Voltaire releases an exclusive limited edition A1 calendar by Ashish Gupta. Best known for his eponymous fashion label, this project continues an exciting departure from Ashish's usual creative medium. It follows the publication of GAZE, a collection of Ashish’s photographs released by House of Voltaire in 2019. The images provide an exploration of queer desire through the seasons. April’s showers have little to do with rain. May presents us with a dreamy promise of a ‘flower’ in bloom. November is bathed in the cold light of a blue film. By queering and subverting the traditional pinup calendar Ashish creates something that is both playful and unapologetic in its scale and concept. The queer bodies are diverse and real. And the models are not only objects of desire but subjects engaged in intimate acts with the camera.
Featuring thirteen original images printed in full colour as individual A1 prints, the calendar is designed to be used either as a traditional calendar or by displaying each print individually. This special collectable item comes bound together with a wrap band featuring an additional GAZE image sticker.
The calendar is £75 with all proceeds supporting Studio Voltaire’s artistic and community projects. Alongside the calendar, Ashish has designed sticker sets, priced at £15.
Available for pre-order at houseofvoltaire.org and in-store at House of Voltaire,
1A Nelsons Row, London SW4 7JR