Plinthos is an investigation into the intersection of traditional masculine values and contemporary, progressive perspectives on identity, gender, and vulnerability. As societal views on sexuality, effeminacy, and self-expression continue to evolve, I find myself existing in the space of both worlds - questioning where we’ve come from and where we’re heading.
It is through the creation of sculptures of concrete, wire, clay, plaster and foam, that I explore these themes. These sculptures are not the final product but tools that interact with my body in the context of my photography. Confined to a studio, sometimes my body and sculptures coexist in the same frame, other times separately, though they always remain in dialogue. The images are about a changing landscape - both physical and emotional - where the weight of concrete holds a fragile clay facade, and where the body itself is both cast in and liberated from material forms like alginate and plaster.
The project draws influence from classical art, particularly Renaissance and Ancient depictions of the male form. I am fascinated by how audiences - then and now - respond to the suggestive undertones these representations offer. Initially, Plinthos began as a search for a deeper understanding of vulnerability in men and a challenge to the toxic masculine archetypes that continue to dominate our cultural landscape. As the project evolved, I allowed the image-making process to shape the direction of the work, resulting in an ongoing body of photographs that both reflect and critique our current social state.
Ultimately, my hope is that the work invites reflection on the evolving nature of masculinity and broader identity - offering space to reflect on its past while also exploring its future in a society struggling to keep pace with such rapid change.
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