The event connected with the artist Castelli, would be his time in the Early 1970’s in Lucerne, Switzerland, prior to his move to Berlin. Those formative years of having a tight and intimate circle of fellow queer artist friends, often regarded as the long-haired freaks around the flamboyant painter Luciano Castelli shaped him. Many nights were spent between artists aiding in each other's work. For queer folks of that time, to be out and proud could potentially gotten them ostracized from greater society, or at worst have them killed. Aside from clubs and private circles, it was not safe for queer folk. Having like-minded friends living and working together, encouraging, and melding ideas together for wonderful and exciting new expressions of art is such a crucial happening for any artist. Having a circle like that was most definitely rare for many queer people in that time. The things learned in those foundational years are evident in most pieces he has created. The flagrant disregard for gender depictions fostered in those years can be seen in his photography that is so free flowing, with unabashed experimentation of self-projection, and the constant conversation that comes from much of his work around gender and sexual liberations.