DeSana's work occupies a space between the intensity of eroticism and a surreal, detached objectivity; something he once stressed to his friend and collaborator Laurie Simmons, saying, 'I attempted to use the body but without the eroticism that some photographers use frequently. I think I de-eroticised a lot of it.' This statement highlights his intention to shift focus away from mere eroticism in his portraits, showcasing the evolving nature of identity within the context of societal changes.
Paul P feels like a direct artistic descendant of DeSana's in terms of the tension between sexual desire and objective voyeurism that informs his work, and the shadow cast by the Aids crisis. He wrote, 'Having been born in 1977, my self-awareness developed in relative lockstep with the ravages of the Aids crisis, which impacted the way I perceive and express identity in my art.' This connection draws a line between past and present artistic expressions, emphasizing the lasting impact of cultural traumas.
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