| I've always believed in duality. You can't notice the dark without feeling the light, masculinity isn't interesting unless it's balanced by femininity, the good is boring unless you have the…well, you get the picture. Not only is this represented within my images, but by the very genre of work that I create. First, I am a print, clothing and jewelry designer. My other life is that of photographer. |
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Machismo and Sensitivity – Chris Habana
I've always believed in duality. You can't notice the dark without feeling the light, masculinity isn't interesting unless it's balanced by femininity, the good is boring unless you have the…well, you get the picture. Not only is this represented within my images, but by the very genre of work that I create.
First, I am a print, clothing and jewelry designer. My other life is that of photographer. This second life is still a pimply-faced teenager playing with his parents’ digital camera and using MySpace as his forum through which to be “arty.” And, like all teenage boys, the work I do is centered around sexuality, fantasy and dreams.
Quite frankly, I dream about men. But the men in my dreams aren't just everyday people who walk the earth. They are otherworldly, larger than life, large and hairy men who prance around with unicorns and duel it out with animated stuffed animals in vogue balls on a floor made out of neon-colored lights and oversized pills, all the while having the “Golden Girls” playing in the sky.
The subjects I record usually exhibit a great balance of machismo and sensitivity. Bearded faces are posed in flirty, exaggerated, Vidal Sasoon angles. I like my men seemingly butch with more than a touch of raging queen. I feel these expressions of masculinity haven't been fully explored in gay art as of late. Butch and straight are only interesting if there is a chance to see these men sharing Bundt cake recipes and braiding each other’s hair.
Really, I can try and write volumes about how deep and meaningful my art is. But, at the end of the day, like all artists, I use my art and work as a Personals page, a dude magnet, a way to meet more guys. Isn't that what we all do?
