David Kawena: The Sexuality of the Asexual Disney Heroes

[reviews_and_ramblings]

I found this artist on DevianArt thank to madam_minnie. David Kawena had a very original idea: to use as models for his art the characters of Disney movies.

In a series of portraits he reinvented (or discovered), with a bit more of realism than the original characters, the hidden sensuality of those heroes who steal hearts of the princesses in fairy tales.

 
Peter Pan

 
Hercules

 
Prince Naveen

 
Narnian Kings

 
Prince Edward

 
Tarzan

 
Will Turner

 
John Henry

 
Sitka

 
Milo J. Thatch

 
John Smith

 
Prince Phillip

David Kawena is a from Israel and he was asked what it means to be a gay artist there:

"Actually being (a) gay artist, or straight artists who deals with ‘gay’ issues is pretty much a cool thing to be in Israel! Israel is very open minded and very narrow minded too - it's (a) mix of a place. We have a lot openly gay artists here, most of them are on prime time television - actors, fashion designers - and many singers who are openly gay are at the top of the national charts all the time. I do most of my work outside of Israel, but that's a different subject. I could very well be categorized as a straight artist who dose gay
work, or vise versa... You know?!”

Kawena’s work is primarily digital media.

http://davidkawena.deviantart.com/

More Artists at my website: http://www.elisarolle.com/, My Ramblings/Art

Comments

[chaosmyth.livejournal.com]

I admit I love this version of the characters much better than the original one ;P

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Truth be told, also I! Elisa

[annabirmingham.livejournal.com]

Me too!!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

We will become all Disney fans now, to see new Disney Heroes by David Kawena LOL Elisa

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

I must confess that I don't know most of these, because I am not much of a Disney fan, and I don't like Will Turner (Jack and Norrington are way better as characters), but wow... I love his version of Peter Pan and Tarzan *-*

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Peter Pan is so cute and the studded bracelet is so naughty! Elisa

[libras-art.livejournal.com]

Peter Pan and Tarzan were my two favorites of his as well. =)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Well, Tarzan, even in his original shape, is already good material to dream... he is always scarcely dressed! Elisa

[madam-minnie.livejournal.com]

SQUEE!!! OMG I love his work so much that every time his name pops up in anything, I rush to see what else he's done. :D His version of the Disney characters is my fave by far! I love that he mixes a bit of what the character's personality along with elements of the gay lifestyle that are subtle. Prince Eric's leather armband, for example. *melts* I will fangirl him forever! :D

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

It's a good way to draw to Disney fans that probably had never considered to go to see a Disney movie! Elisa

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

These are beautiful! You can "feel" the texture with your mind's eye.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Make you want to write a Disney fairy tale? Elisa

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

It would definitely a very different kind of fairy tale. *winks*

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

I'd be too worried about their layers. But those are tasty.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, right, they are really big on that... Mmm... well, we can at least daydreams on that pictures! And maybe, way long in the future, there will be a Gay Disney Hero! Maybe for teenagers? Young Adult Novels seem to do good. Elisa

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Hercules is totally this guy. *nods*

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/france/1434.php?player=71113&includeref=dynamic

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Rugby players seem to be always hotties! I have a friend of mine that refused to go out for the last saturdays since she had to see the Six Nations Tournament. And it's not that she is much interested in the sport ;-) Elisa

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

You certainly have some very hot lads playing for Italy.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

And we lend them to French! Elisa

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Count me in on the "I like them better than the originals" group, though there are lots I don't recognize. John Smith is er...wow. :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

LOL, John Smith is Pocahontas's beau. Do you have only boys in your family, don't you? I think a lot of girls lost sleep on John Smith's story, even if, knowing how it actually went, it's a bit sad. If I remember well, there is even a gay character, not prince material, usual gay characters in Disney movies are always some supporting roles. Elisa

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

I've got girls, but they're not really Disney fans, so the only ones I know here are Peter Pan and the Narnian boys, oh and Will Turner. But it certainly sounds as if I should check out Pocahontas just for my own sake :)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

John Smith is even an army officer, if I remember well, English for sure. He is a real life man, he was the first English man to "marry" a Native American woman, Pocahontas, and he also brought her to visit England and to meet the Queen. But sadly, as probably people should have foreseen, the contact with all the germs and illness was too much for a woman like Pocahontas who always lived in a free from virus environment, and she died (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocahontas).

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Well, they didn't understand about viruses and germs in those days, so it would have been an unforeseen tragedy rather than a case of negligence, but yes, that is a rather sad ending. Presumably that didn't make its way into the Disney film?
I'll have to go and look up the story (not of the film, but the real life one). It sounds very interesting and just about my kind of era too :) Thank you!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

> Presumably that didn't make its way into the Disney film?

Of course no ;-) In the Disney movie they are happily leaving for England, if I remember well. Elisa

[marame.livejournal.com]

Holy hell these are GOOD! Thanks, as always Elisa, for sharing your bounty with us! 8-)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You are more than welcome! Elisa

[tizi17.livejournal.com]

what a lovely idea.. if i as a princess (or prince?)had to pick.. mmmhhh.. ;-)

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You have plenty of choices! Elisa