Series : Somatography of Intimacy
Interested in creating pathways toward closeness and vulnerability, « Somatography of Intimacy » unfolds through live painting performances.
Using his own body as a tool, the artist abandons traditional methods, erasing distance between himself and the model. He’s drawn to the charge of new encounters—echoing queer cruising culture. Sometimes, an audience joins the choreography, witnessing this queer artistic interaction. Martin paints spontaneously, instinctively, hoping the model will feel the touch through the paint itself—sensation crossing surface into body.
Rooted in live sessions with gay and queer community members, this growing family of portraits celebrates raw tenderness, vulnerability, and creative energy flowing from each unique connection—friendship, desire, or unexpected collision.
Tucker in Blue (SOLD)
100X145cm - Alkyd and Ink on Canvas
Made during a live Performance from Martin Dieudonné with Tucker
Instinct#19 ‘Cruising – Intergenerational Bridges and Labyrinthine Journeys’
21/08/25 – We are Village, BERLIN
Pedro
100X150cm -Acrylics and Oil Pastel on Canvas
Made during a live Performance from Martin Dieudonné with Pedro
'Queer Art Residency' 20/02/26 at The Late Birds, LISBOA
Felix Sketching
110X150cm - Alkyd and Oil Pastel on Canva
Yossi
110X150cm - Alkyd and Oil Pastel on Canva
Made during a live Performance from Martin Dieudonné with Yossi
Instinct Residency Program 12/03/26 – We are Village, BERLIN
Ran
100X140cm -Acrylics and Oil Pastel on Canvas
Made during a live Performance from Martin Dieudonné with Ran
Instinct Residency Program 20/03/26 – We are Village, BERLIN
Male body studies
My singular practice of portraiture could be described as another way to connect between people. I propose encounters – drawing sessions in which the contact and discovery of the other takes place simultaneously with the painting. In contrast to the traditional live model class, these sessions are the occasion for often intimate and profound conversations between artist and model, adding an emotional dimension to the moment produced. These sessions are conducted in the nude.
Another way to connect through art
My live model practice could be considered as a detour from the typical « date ». By deconstructing the relationship between model and artist in this way, I introduce a new way of sensual connection, far from the recurring codes of highly sexualized seduction, especially in the homosexual community.
“Nudity is the best clothing for sharing vulnerability”
Exposing oneself, literally and figuratively, is a therapeutic experience for many of the people I meet.
Society often tells us that being naked is all about sex. I believe that naturism is an exhilarating way to feel freedom and build self-acceptance in our beautifully unique body. In my practice, I am also convinced that it puts the model and the artist at the same level of vulnerability and help remove our shield and brings us a deeper connection.
The intimate relationship and the exposed vulnerability of these sessions give rise to unique moments, which I capture through sketching. The resulting works are simply traces of these moments. They bear witness to their beauty, intimacy, sharing and the relationship of trust established between the two partie.
