- Mirror images
- Photography
Embrace
The powerful vulnerability of man
Year: 2022
In the ‘Embrace’ series, I provide insight into the (re)discovery and appreciation of my own masculinity. Additionally, I call upon men to engage in conversation with each other and their environment about masculinity, stereotypes, behavior, sexuality, desires, and boundaries.
The better we know, acknowledge, and appreciate our own boundaries, the easier it becomes to relate to those of others.
I felt my fear, as I greeted an inner struggle. My resistance was disarmed by the softness of my hands. By acknowledging my desire, my lust and the wish to experience a mature connection, I learned that love is the embracing of vulnerability.
The new masculinity
After all the stories about sexually transgressive behavior and worse, I am even more aware that to change the stereotypical image and behavior of men, different (role) models of masculinity are needed. In the debate to be held, it is important that the powerful vulnerable side of men becomes visible. The intimate side that has room for the story of others and can learn from its mistakes or errors. Which leaves space for victims of sexual violence to tell their story. Male victims too. And to find a way forward.
The primary reaction we often see now after the revelations, where people play both lawyer and judge, mainly stands in the way of developing a new image of men or masculinity, the necessary self-reflection, and change in behavior.
In continuation of
In my previous series of self-reflections “Of Dark and Light”, I made my own (unseen) emotions visible through self-portraits. And thus open for discussion. The series “Love, Not War” builds on this. Partly gold-covered hands and arms show both the stereotypical image of man, as well as the possible change in it; the moment when appreciation arises for the interplay between sexuality, love, strength, and vulnerability.
The stereotypical image
I have never identified with the stereotypical image of man throughout my life; the horny, money-hungry hunter who stops at nothing and knows no weakness. I have always felt much more open, vulnerable, and softer. As a result, I have rebelled against that stereotype so much that I didn’t really dare to see or acknowledge my own masculinity. This has also caused me to develop differently as a man. With this series, I hold that development up to the light, also for myself.
Specifications:
The series consists of 11 photos with a format of 80 x 40 cm printed on 310 gsm Hahnemühle Photo Rag Bright White mounted on aluminum dibond.
The series can also be executed as a series of smaller photos next to each other in a format of 100 x 80cm.
