I discovered the Trash Bar a few years ago, with a former friend of mine who wanted to try some spicy experiences in his life. When you start knowing a city a bit too much, you need to find out new places to go, new horizons, and you have this inside impulse to become a tourist in your own city again. I had heard so many times about this place, from people who liked to scare us or to make us feel uncomfortable; and now, it was time for us to see with our eyes.
In the middle of a harmless street in Marseille, we arrived in front of a garage door with a very discreet red light popping sometimes, clearly telling you that what happens inside is serious and it's not something you will see anywhere else.
We came in. My friend was scared. I was everything else but not scared at all. It was something I never felt before.
Suddenly, surrounded by darkness and a very loud electronic music, I quickly perceived trough the flashing lights silhouettes of men, dancing, kissing, cuddling, not caring of where they were, what they were doing, who was watching, and that two 22yo guys just came in. This was the first time in a gay place where I didn't feel like a piece of meat.
This place clearly appeared to me as a temple for masculinity and hedonism, with very good electronic music, and I felt home. No judgement, no fears, no bad behaviour, nothing disgusting or illegal, just human beings acting as they should do, respecting each other and escaping their everyday life. Forgetting how hard it is outside, how complicated social relationships can "normally" be. This place showed itself as the opposite of what we know and do, in a way to make a balance with perfect equilibrium. It was a pure nonsense for my friend, who asked me to leave after ten minutes.
We finally stayed. We had a very good night I can't forget.
Years later, I've lost a friend, but I've won a place in which I feel safe, really inspired, and I needed people to get this feeling and experience this place without any judgement. So when the bar asked me to do its new identity and visuals, I obviously said yes. I really wanted to show things without showing everything, to explain, to be objective, and to stay kinky and appealing, without showing guys with perfect bodies and a fucking hard diet called Photoshop (because it's not even human and too cliché for gay places).
In the middle of a harmless street in Marseille, we arrived in front of a garage door with a very discreet red light popping sometimes, clearly telling you that what happens inside is serious and it's not something you will see anywhere else.
We came in. My friend was scared. I was everything else but not scared at all. It was something I never felt before.
Suddenly, surrounded by darkness and a very loud electronic music, I quickly perceived trough the flashing lights silhouettes of men, dancing, kissing, cuddling, not caring of where they were, what they were doing, who was watching, and that two 22yo guys just came in. This was the first time in a gay place where I didn't feel like a piece of meat.
This place clearly appeared to me as a temple for masculinity and hedonism, with very good electronic music, and I felt home. No judgement, no fears, no bad behaviour, nothing disgusting or illegal, just human beings acting as they should do, respecting each other and escaping their everyday life. Forgetting how hard it is outside, how complicated social relationships can "normally" be. This place showed itself as the opposite of what we know and do, in a way to make a balance with perfect equilibrium. It was a pure nonsense for my friend, who asked me to leave after ten minutes.
We finally stayed. We had a very good night I can't forget.
Years later, I've lost a friend, but I've won a place in which I feel safe, really inspired, and I needed people to get this feeling and experience this place without any judgement. So when the bar asked me to do its new identity and visuals, I obviously said yes. I really wanted to show things without showing everything, to explain, to be objective, and to stay kinky and appealing, without showing guys with perfect bodies and a fucking hard diet called Photoshop (because it's not even human and too cliché for gay places).
Visual Direction: Gael Lapasset
Photography and Photographic Direction: Antoine Crémieux, Tomas Di Giovanni, Gael Lapasset.
Graphic Design and Motion Design: Gael Lapasset
