SMUT Press is proud to announce the launch of Cruising Archaeology II: Eurotrash, the long awaited follow-up edition to the 2024 cult bestseller. Cruising Archaeology II: Eurotrash is the tenth printed matter project by the press and will launch in a series of events across Europe, starting at MA1: Bunker in Old Street in London. We hope to see you at one of the launches!
The project builds on the initial edition’s success by expanding the breadth of archaeological sites to various locations scattered across European cities including Berlin, Athens, Dublin, Barcelona and Paris. The diversity of cruising areas, including woodland areas, public toilets, palatial gardens, s3x clubs and beaches, speak to the inventive, site-responsive forms that cruising assumes and situating desire both within the folds of a city’s infrastructure and natural landscape.
Much like its predecessor, the book pairs vivid scans of collected objects with writing that contextualises, complicates and historicises cruising’s material traces. Featured texts include interviews with Marc Svensson of You Are Loved and with Mati Klitgård of Gay Consent.Lab- both offering urgent perspectives on intimacy and consent in contemporary queer life. Other contributors include Stav B, whose piece addresses the erasure of lesbian cruising spaces, Jordan Tannahill’s piece recounts a wild night in Hampstead Heath, evoking the fantasy of cruising grounds whilst Prem Sahib’s insert ‘Vape’ responds to the relationship between the digital and the physical and João Florêncio’s opening piece, titled ‘F****** Ruins,’ interlaces queerness with empire and decay. Image features in the book by Del LaGrace Volcano, Vincent Wechselberger and Jordan Hearns.
The publication retains the pocket-sized paperback format with the book’s design researched and assembled by designer John Philip Sage. An accompanying exhibition at Studio Voltaire in London, opens next week and presents an expanded form of the publication. Published by SMUT Press and distributed by Public Knowledge Books. Stockists TBA. This production is supported by Arts Council Ireland and Culture Ireland.
