The exhibition of work by Breyer P-ORRIDGE and Pierre Molinier at Invisible-Exports, which opened Sept. 5, is one of primal urges and modern-day taboo. P-ORRIDGE, a genderless artist duo, has h/er work juxtaposed with the work of Molinier, who died in 1976. Most of the work, almost all of which is self-portraiture of either P-ORRDIGE or Molinier, depict provocatively posed subjects alongside controversial objects.

The exhibit breaks modern-day expectations of photography. P-ORRIDGE and Molinier sometimes show images that are rarely seen anywhere outside of pornography, though they still remain artful while doing so. Most of the photographs depict naked bodies, abused figures and dildos, and many are eye-popping combinations of all three. While the pieces may at first unnerve some viewers, the freedom to look at them and meditate on what is being displayed is a liberating experience.

While some artists include sex toys in their work as a commentary on fetishism or gender politics, P-ORRIDGE and Molinier simply reveal how everyone is guilty of feeling certain primal urges. It is likely most people will walk out without being aroused, but the works open up a certain type of image that is usually represented by society.

The exhibition is often grotesque and strange. Glitter-dashed shoes with horns and photos of naked bodies with far too many legs are just two of the especially memorable features of these works.

The large white gallery space contrasts the photographs, which are small and often very dirty. It is necessary to lean in to see the photographs, which only accentuates their creepiness and adds more surrealism to the strange showing.

The exhibition gives gallery visitors a look into the overtly sexual, deeply animalistic lives of two artists. The real joy of the art on display is that it allows viewers to step off the street and see graphic imagery that is shocking in a very atypical way. The exhibition gives visitors a look at art that is not mainstream and gives it the attention it deserves.

The exhibition will run until Oct. 12.

A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Sept. 10 print edition.  Email Jack Barker at [email protected].