Photographer Maciek Groman is tantalisingly talented, intravenously inspired and arrestingly affable.
Originally hailing from Poland, he moved to London to pursue bright lights and big boys. When he’s not pouring hot wax on himself or careening around East London’s gay clubs with Virginia Wright, he can be found editing photos, or schmoozing down Green Lanes with a vape and a dream.
He’s made a career for himself taking photos under the pseudonym [HAWT!]Photography. He specialises in sexy, unapologetically explicit shots of alternative, bright-eyed gentlemen.
His work has now birthed an effortlessly cool zine, [Hawt!] which is launching at Dalston Superstore’s notorious Homostash party this Friday.
Homostash DJ Tafkanik had a chat with Maciek ahead of the launch to get the lowdown on what we can expect!
Hi Maciek, can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us something about your project [Hawt!]?
Heeey! I like to call myself a professional pervert, haha! XXX, porn, whatever you’d like to call it, is a huge part of my life, it always has been. [HAWT!] started as an exploration of sexuality and turned into a showcase of hotness in all shapes and forms; a celebration of confidence and sexiness. One of the most important things about being a [HAWT!] boy is just that – confidence. Loves it.
You are well known as a party photographer – at Homostash and a number of other LGBT events across London. Have those parties been an inspiration for you as an artist & photographer?
Gee, thanks! I’ve been doing this gig for over a year now (Heeeeey, QX!) – and I love every moment of it! The constant flow of interesting and pretty people and the variety of events, gigs and nights I experienced has been incredible. It’s not a direct visual inspiration, but it has taught me better interaction with people that I photograph – in and out of the studio. Every single person I interact with on a night out is an inspiration. So thank you to all of you!
How did you decide to create a zine and what is the idea behind it?
The concept of running a zine has always been something I’ve toyed with, but the final push happened at a little exhibition I was part of earlier this year with my boys from Gay Photographers’ Network. I displayed my pieces printed as if they came from a zine – to test the waters. The response has been overwhelmingly positive so I decided to go for it, started shooting, organised the whole lot and here we are now! The zine’s about hot guys with their dicks out. You’re welcome. But it’s also about more than that – it’s about being proud of your own body, showing it off and being unapologetically sexual. Free yourself, babes! Each issue will be a different theme, so keep your eyes peeled!
How do you find your models? And where can people send their applications if they want to be part of [HAWT!]?
This is something A LOT of photographers ask me about, haha! Honestly, anywhere – Instagram, Twitter, I’m literally trolling all of the hookup apps, ha! Being out and about is always a good source too. Xuxu, who you can see in the zine and will be able to meet at the night, for example, asked me to take a pic of him at a club night – and got an instant invitation to shoot. I mean, look at the man! Woof!
Is there a specific reason why you decided to launch [HAWT!] at Dalston Superstore’s Homostash?
Because I love these boys? Tafkanik and Branqo are genuinely amazing people, I love them to bits. Suuuuuper hawt too. When I started organising things, they were one of the first people I spoke to about it. I wanted to launch with the hottest night in town and Homostash is it. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out BIG time. The theme of this first edition is in honour of these boys – it’s taches everywhere!
Do you have any other surprises in store at the party?
If you’re expecting me to say that I’m going to be peddling filth and sex toys to everyone there – you’re 100% correct! I’ve got an eXXXtra special projection of genuine filth going up on the wall and CloneZone (who has been MEGA supportive of this venture) is donating a whole bunch of goody bags! So, yeah: filth through and through. Surprise!
[Hawt!] launches at Homostash this Friday 12th January. More info here.
