Artist Statement

I photograph male nudes as a way to find my own centre of gravity in the spectrum of the masculine. Instead of asking the outside world who I am and who I should be as a man, I started to seek and create from within.

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My work reflects back glimpses of the being that I am: The way I connect with others, the way I view the world, the way I love, my desires and my leanings. Creating these images is a tool to help deconstruct years of a very binary viewpoint on gender identity and my place within it. The male nude is in some ways the disrobing of the outside world that allows me to observe, interact with and sculpt the new masculine as I identify with it. Not unlike how I used to play with my cousin's Ken doll when I was a young boy. 

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Most images are shot on a Canon 6D and converted to B&W in Photoshop. I do not alter the images except for 'cleaning up' the images by removing dust and dirt from the background and small blemishes on models that might be temporary or could be covered up by makeup if makeup was to be used. I consider this to be important for the appreciation and honesty of these images. In a world where images are often altered to a hyperreality, I believe it is important to have a reprieve from that and see things as they really are. Look closely and you will see the bumps and scars and uneven textures of skin.  

 

The paper I use to print the images is Epson Legacy Platine which is a paper that has the look and feel of silver halide photo paper. My deep affinity for the art of photography started in the university dark room where I spent hours printing my own black and white photos. I want my digital images to have that same hand printed character and for the prints to be experienced and appreciated in a tactile way too. In this digital age where we are exposed to an enormous amount of digital images on a daily basis, a well crafted fine art print still has the power to mesmerise us, stir us and give us pause. 

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