This portrait is part of a mini-series of 4 portraits I did, each depicting the fragility of the modern idea of masculinity. Each piece in this series consists of the same 4 visual dynamics as laid out below:

• A moustache as a symbol of masculinity
• A failed, melancholic gaze with half-closed eyes
• A varying level of sexual objectification
• A dimension of time.

Wherever you live, one of the most traumatising perks(!) of being a gay person is your constant battle with the idea of masculinity. As with many of the most pressing questions in life, in the best scenario you end up in a love-hate relationship with whatever that word seems to capture. There’s a reason why many gay people populate gyms these days. It’s because a big heart does not make up for flabby arms. As the notion of masculinity transforms, it transforms us too. And it is this dynamic that I am after.

This artwork stands out from the rest of the mini-series with its focus on Baroque, as the period in which one of the biggest cultural shifts in society was starting to leave its mark on gender identity.

More about the artwork

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