The Real Man's Guide to Masculinity

‘The Real Man's Guide to Masculinity’ embarks on a defiant visual critique of the confining and toxic masculine stereotypes that permeate society. Through a series of bold, performative portrait photographs, I seek to expose and subvert these outdated notions, particularly as they impact queer individuals who often find themselves at odds with societal prescriptions of what it means to be a "real man."
By employing a palette of hyper-saturated hues and intricate makeup designs, I transform myself into living embodiments of these stereotypes, pushed to their most extreme and absurd conclusions. The vivid colours that adorn my skin and frame the compositions serve as a striking visual representation of the artificiality and performativity of gender roles, highlighting the ways in which masculinity is often constructed and imposed rather than innately experienced.

In each of the works, my gazes - at once compelling and defiant - peer out from behind these constructed facades, hinting at the complex inner tensions of conformity versus rebellion that lie beneath the surface, impressing them onto the viewer with a palpable intensity. Through this juxtaposition of the artificial and the authentic, I aim to lay bare the internal conflict stemming from the struggle to decide whether to conform to, or to defy these archetypes.

By presenting my works within the context of a physical guidebook, I further underscore the absurdity of the notion that masculinity can be reduced to a set of prescribed behaviours or traits, as if it were a skill to be learned or a product to be consumed. It serves as a satirical critique of the idea that manhood is something that can be codified or taught, while also highlighting the pervasiveness of these harmful stereotypes within popular culture. By contextualising the works in the format of a "how-to guidebook”, I aim to create a sense of cognitive dissonance that encourages viewers to question the validity and utility of such reductive notions of gender.

In essence, the body of work is a call to action, urging audiences to question and reject these limiting definitions of manhood. Through a combination of irony, mockery, and visual provocation, I seek to turn the notion of masculinity back on itself in a facetious, pointed exposé, using my own identity as a canvas for exploring the ways in which these stereotypes can be subverted and reclaimed.