“Loovorfook”
Through Oct. 31. Qbix Gallery, 211 Arch St. 215.625.2521
www.philadelphiaweekly.com

Maori Karmael Holmes

Our society places sex on a pedestal. It’s one of those mysterious things to be feared and revered—sort of like chocolate. Pop artist Rah Crawford has dedicated his latest exhibit “Loovorfook” to one central question: What drives your sex? As the third act of his four-part “Welcome to Earth” series, Crawford is investigating perhaps the most essential aspect of human existence, and has created 15 masterful pieces of intricately veiled imagery depicting women and men navigating the dynamics of modern relationships. “This exhibition seemed so very clear to me when I initially developed the concept,” he says. “My intention was to segregate imagery of loov and fook, then present my research findings visually. From the first brush stroke my assumptions about the driving forces behind sexuality unraveled at my feet.” To further his research, Crawford staged the public event “Loov Me” at the Mansion in late August, and involved mass commitment ceremonies. A later event entitled “Fook You” was canceled due to timing. “Once my heart began to relearn what loov meant, my perceptions on fook changed as well. The line between the two vanished, and I was left with a story of individual human experience.”