NED RAW
In this provocative photo-collage composition, I delve into the intricate nexus of potency and persona, taking cues from Pop Art's vibrant, eye-catching lexicon. My work, inherently influenced by this iconic movement, employs its hallmark representation methods, synthesising high art with popular culture, thereby broadening the dialogue around identity and masculinity.
At the heart of this exploratory journey is a self-portrait, enigmatic and enthralling, in which I deliberately draw upon the legendary figure of Ned Kelly. His steel armour, an enduring emblem of resilience, is an allegorical stand-in for the metaphorical armour we don daily — a veil that cloaks our authentic self in reality and virtual landscapes such as social media.
The deliberate effacement of my face and the audacious, self-assured body stance is careful machinations designed to interrogate and disrupt ingrained societal assumptions about manhood and authority. This work operates as an inquisitive study of the structures of power, their pervasive influence, and the subsequent moulding of our self-perception. It challenges the viewer to confront the constraints of conformity and the often unspoken tension between public posturing and personal truth.
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Archival pigment on Cansom Aquarelle Rag 310gsm fine art paper with a textured surface.
9 Limited Edition Prints for sale - 60cm x 84cm
1 of 1 NFT
