Wave
Nikon F3 | Portra 400
High Line, Manhattan, NY
I do the work that I do in an attempt to confront the hypocrisy that exists within the queer community. As a marginalized group, all too often we waste energy worrying about the problems from outside, and they are vast, while ignoring the problems within. Misogyny, for example is alive and well within the male population, and heterosexual stereotypes are readily embraced, a standard that too many queer people measure themselves by. It’s my opinion that we need to confront and deal with our shortcomings as queer individuals, rather than merely assimilating ourselves into the heterosexual community.
Often times an idea will come to me through some form of media, often a song lyric. Out of context, a lyric can take on infinite meanings and for me, forms a starting point. I find inspiration through the work of artists such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Patti Smith and Jean Grae, while relying on life experience to shape the idea. Rather than simply choose subjects that are esthetically pleasing, I chose props that hold significance to me personally that also convey the idea I am trying to present.
In this recent series, I’m exploring the heterosexual male stereotypes of masculinity and the incessant need for queer males to mimic those behaviors as well as foisting these believes on each other, idealizing the hetero male stereotype rather than truly accepting themselves. This is a feeble attempt at acceptance within the heterosexual community. True acceptance has to be found within and until it is, we will never be able to force real change.
