In 1972, the actor

Burt Reynolds

posed for

Cosmopolitan

magazine, becoming the world's first nude male centrefold.

Helen Gurley Brown, the magazine's then editor, believed women had the same 'visual appetites' as men. (Men had been able to see naked women in Playboy magazine as early as 1953.)

In uncertain times, perhaps it's natural to look to the past for reassurance - to a time when the world seemed simpler and more straightforward.

The work includes an image of

Eugen Sandow

the world's first professional body builder.

Sandow measured the proportions of statues in museum collections in order to develop his own physique to resemble the Greek ideal.

Sandow's face is obscured by the work's text indicating that it is the symbolism of the ideal, rather than Sandow himself, which is of interest to the artist.

This artwork is part of socialart.work, a mass public art project by public artist

Martin Firrell

calling for greater social justice.

It aims to create debate about power and gender, women's equality and masculinity, alternative forms of economic and social organisation, black power, and solidarity between people from different backgrounds and ethnicities.

It includes posters, publications and events supported in 2018-19 by the artist's residency with leading Out of Home media company

Clear Channel UK.