John Wood Shows Secret Photos of Glasgow's Gay Leather Scene
John Wood, a 79-year-old former telecoms engineer, is showing his first ever solo exhibition in Glasgow. For decades, he secretly photographed the city's gay leather scene from a converted attic.
John Wood is 79 years old. He has his very first solo photography exhibition. It is showing at Celine gallery in Glasgow.
Wood worked as a telecoms engineer during the day. But at night, he did something very different. He photographed men in Glasgow's gay leather scene. He did this in secret for many years.
The photos show men in various states of undress. Many subjects wear black leather jackets, gloves, and boots. The images are erotic, intimate, and sometimes kinky.
The photos look like they could be from New York. Many people think of famous BDSM photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Others might think of Studio 54 in the 1970s. Some may also think of Tom of Finland. He was an artist known for homoerotic drawings.
But these photos were not taken in New York. They were taken in a converted attic in Glasgow's West End. Nobody knew about this for decades. Not even the neighbours.
Wood kept his photography very private. He never showed his work publicly before. The images stayed hidden in his personal archives for many years.
Now, Wood has opened his archives to the world. His exhibition gives a rare look into Scotland's gay underground community. This community existed quietly for a long time. It was not visible to mainstream society.
The comparison to Robert Mapplethorpe is interesting. Mapplethorpe was famous for his bold images of gay leather culture in America. Wood's work is similar in style. But Wood's photos tell a very Scottish story.
Wood's exhibition is important for LGBTQ+ history. It shows that gay subcultures existed in unexpected places. Cities like Glasgow had vibrant underground communities. These communities are often forgotten in history books.
Visitors to the Celine gallery can now see this hidden world. Wood's photographs bring an important piece of LGBTQ+ history into the light. At 79, he is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
Wood himself says he is not personally into leather. He was simply fascinated by the people and their community. His goal was always to document their lives with honesty and respect.