Carnal Desires is a rare exhibition of work by Sadao Hasegawa, revealing the under-recognised and largely unseen work of one of post-war Japan’s most influential gay fetish artists.

Celebrated for his depiction of hypermasculine forms, Hasegawa’s paintings blend eroticism with pan-Asian folklore, science fiction, and popular culture, imagining a universe where chiselled men encounter mythic creatures, hybrid animals, and divine bodies unbound by earthly limits. While his illustrations were originally published in gay magazines across the US, UK, and Australia, much of his work has remained virtually inaccessible outside Japan.

This is the first exhibition of Hasegawa’s work in Scotland at this scale, featuring unearthed pieces from the archives of Tokyo’s Gallery Naruyama, many of which have never before been shown in the UK. Carnal Desires invites audiences into a provocative and fantastical queer cosmos, celebrating desire in its most unrestrained form.

Event Info:

→ This exhibition is in Gallery 1 of Custom Lane, accessible through the cafe as you enter from the courtyard. There is step-free access to the building from the courtyard, with cobbles underfoot.

→ This exhibition will have seating available on request. If you need a particular kind or placement of seat, please let a member of staff know.

→ This exhibition features paintings that graphically depict nudity, sex, and fetish practices, including bondage and beastiality.

In collaboration with Gallery Naruyama. Supported by National Center for Art Research Japan and Japan House, London.