Did this shoot evolve into something sexual between you boiz? Nope, but something even better emerged.
One day in January, Ghost and John were strolling around an empty office level in Crossharbour, London. They were dreaming about their next photo and video project. They saw a group of beautiful Asian men confidently display their desirability, playing out the Asian hot male fantasy.
Later that day, they reached out to the Asian all-male cabaret supergroup Dragon Boiz via WhatsApp. A date in April was soon set for a one-day session.
For decades, Asian gay men have been portrayed as objects of desire. They were there to fulfil other people’s sexual fantasies. The Asian sub bottom is a staple archetype in queer pop culture and literature (and porn) that centres around inter-racial relationships. Even in the latest gay drama ‘Heated Rivalry’, the half-Asian hockey player Shane Hollander, portrayed by the drool-inducing Hudson Williams, was a muscular, submissive bottom, passively waiting for his Russian lover to make the first move.
Rarely, Asian gay men get to become desiring subjects who actively go get their desires fulfilled. They are deemed the babes, not the hunks.
This dual-minority of being Asian and gay plays a key role in everyday hookup scenes as well. Beyond the “is this racism or preference” question, the psychological impact of this openly expressed “no rice” desexualisation, or Asian fetishisation, is deeply felt across Asian gay communities, especially in the post-COVID-19 environment. Individuals’ level of acculturation to Western society is also intertwined with their self-esteem. In other words, the non-English-speaking, first-generation migrants have it worse than their counterparts.
What’s the way out then? The answer is: self-love and resistance.
On Instagram, the Dragon Boiz’s bio description says. “Just your overachieving Asian cousins here to ruin the family hotpot.”
Dragon Boiz was formed under Pete Gargett’s vision (aka Drag and boylesque performer Pad Thai), alongside the winner of the Great British Striptease, Duana Nasis, singer-songwriter TIN, Scotsman Fringe First Winner Max Percy and more. John Chan (writer-performer) of the married artist duo Ghost and John started performing with the cabaret supergroup in the autumn of last year. Since then, they have been performing across stages, pubs, and clubs, playing as X-Men, Baywatch characters, Saja Boys, Squid Game guards, and more, serving dripping, raw Asian excellence.
The video game concept of side quests inspires the exhibition title. Here, Ghost and John are not just asking, “Have you ever side quested this hard in your life? You started stripping for strangers in a club?” They’re asking something deeper: “How far would you stray away from the set paths of society to live a fulfilling and empowering life?”
In the carpeted space with a stunning London Dockland view through the panoramic window, these boiz created still and moving images that are loud, hot and sexy. Joining this shoot are creative technologist Ghost Chan, the queer wellness superstar David Kam, model Alind Chopra, contemporary dance artist Sam Vaherlehto and musician Philip Unciano.
This “side quest” is a declaration of self-love and community empowerment. It is not just a decoupling of beauty standards from Whiteness. This is an active resistance. Expect fierceness and lots of ass and tongue actions.
The exhibition opening party is on 5 June 2026 at Eat the Sunshine, Down the Sun, a Filipino art cafe in Kennington at 303 Kennington Rd, London SE11 4QE, United Kingdom.
Tickets include two free posters. It’s gonna be hot, messy and sweaty.
This still and moving image gay exhibition runs from 5 to 14 June 2026.
Are you annoyed that ‘Have you ever SIDE QUEST this hard?’ is grammatically wrong? Well, that’s your problem. Sending kisses.
Side note: Behind every gay project are our queer allies who drive everything forward. This time, they are AD-witch Anna Point, Magickian Jeffrey Choy, and Babe Vinna Law.
