Fragmented Virility
This surrealist photo series is a collaboration between photographer Maggie Macpherson, costume designer/ art director Cydney Eva of PatternNation and makeup artists Miel Enage and Keiko Hosoi. Fragmented Virility aims to look at gender politics and androgyny through the mediums of textile art, body painting and experimental photography. Mountains of masculinity have been built up in today’s patriarchal society. Men and women are raised gendered and taught how to relate to their masculinity/feminity. In this editorial shoot set in North Vancouver’s Lynn Canyon mountain valley PatternNation aims to fragment and alter our everyday understanding of the masculine body. Each model in this shoot played a role in creating this narrative, by bringing their unique energy, relationship to gender and cultural perspective into the collaboration. To align with the concepts illuminated in Fragmented Virility, PatternNation’s collection of one of a kind garments use the colour blue: a reflection on how blue is used as a tool in gendering clothing for “boys”. Photographer Maggie MacPherson challenges virility (manliness) by shooting with mirrors and reflection as well as altering the images in post, this creates a conversation around self-reflection and perception of self. The photographic choices give the editorial a very surrealist effect, using nature's patterns to further illuminate our concept. Makeup artist team Miel Enage and Keiko Hosoi captured the essence of PatternNation’s other worldly patterns by creating distinctly unique and colourful painted looks for each model. Together this team of Vancouver Canada based artists bring you Fragmented Virility, a conceptual Editorial questioning normality, gender binaries and societal constructs.
Credits
Art Direction: Cydney Eva of PatternNation @cydeva @pattern.nation
Clothing and Jewelry: PatternNation @pattern.nation www.pattern-nation.com
Photographer: Maggie Macpherson @maggiemacmedia www.maggiemacpherson.ca
Makeup Artists: Miel Enage @mmemakeup Keiko Hosoi @keiko.mua
Models: Kevin Fraser @warntheharbour Josh Ongcol @josheeong Natasha Morley @lowkeyclueless Dhia Mahmud @ddhia92 Travis Clifford @royaltravesty Alex King @alexjinhoking
