A Man of Tattoos

This is an experiment - my friend Santa (a great photographer)  wanted me to create a series of three images using the same model. Knowing me, I can't do something simple... so this is the simplest image that I could create, and I call it 'A Man of Tattoos! ' :) 

My Heart is Broken

Again some more of my experimental work from my favourite medium of photography! Me and my melodramatic titles! lol 

Revelations

Taking this project to the next step, I was looking into stories about the Revelation, and the notion of the apocalypse. I have created a few more experimental images reflecting this concept. 

Renaissance Reborn

To research my new project, I have been looking at Renaissance paintings in the National Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square.


I love old paintings, especially the Renaissance paintings that depict biblical and religious stories. Using this influence I have created a few sample sketches and collages using  Biblical imagery as reference.


I have created a more contemporary version, using my bold style. These are my rough ideas, which I will expand further for my next project. 

AX Marlon!

Giorgio Armani would have to be my favourite designer and brand of all time! 


The Armani Exchange campaigns are especially beautiful, obviously in part because of the models chosen to advertise their clothing - Brazilian model Marlon Teixiera! 

Here's a video of an interview from Marlon and his experiences in AX.

David LaChapelle!

Everyone that knows me knows that i am obsessed over this guy! He is such an inspiration to me! Mr. LaChapelle was a major influence for me throughout my dissertation and in general, but I have learned a lot of techniques from him, but I have no stepped away slighlty from him, obviously because I want to create my style and I want to be the next top conceptual fashion art director! :D 

One of my best images from him! "Rape of Africa", This idea of Love conquers War! taken from the painting by Sandro Botticelli’s Venus & Mars.

My Kitsch Photo Shoot!

Firstly, I started to plan the photo shoot by researching photographers like David LaChapelle, Mario Testino and Armin Morbach. All these fashion photographers have a lot in common, in the sense of mood and atmosphere, and conceptually they use a lot of kitsch or sexualized motifs. Notably, I have done a lot visual research and created many mood boards, and photo samples of how I want my shoot to be like. I was aiming for a colourful atmospheric feeling, with sexualized imagery and kitsch elements. 

Most importantly, I wanted to create a professional but simultaneously trashy and camp by using kitsch elements, like vivid colours, random objects, and popular culture aspects like ‘Hello Kitty’ toys.

I decided to use three models for the photo shoot, I organized a day to take the shoot, and I hired out a photo studio, and purchased the costume designs. As the art director as well, I arranged everything to what would be the perfect kitsch photo shoot. 


I wanted to thank everyone that participated and helped with my photo-shoot, i couldn't done it without them!  A thank you to Santa especially! and Wanda! for letting me borrow their photo studio! and we took some amazing shots! Santa is a great photographer! Thank you to Bouquet, Luna and Seyda and the three models! Katie, Theo and Laz. I can't wait for me next one! :D 


Here's a link to my flickr, you can view all 12 photos there, but i have left a few samples here on my blog as well, my favourite three! :D 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmatheou/ 

 

 

Prada Sweet Prada Candy!

Again another inspiring advert, this time by Prada's fragrance! 

I think this advert works very well, another camp and kitschy style advert, (but different to the Versace) I love the woman's exhilaration! I Don't use this word a lot but it defines the word FABULOUS! :D

Donatella Versace For H&M!

                                        Love this Ad! So Kitsch,  Donatella is great!

My Visual Research For A Kitsch Motif

Researching a contentious ice cream advert campaign by Antonio Federici.

Federici's advert showed a pregnant nun eating ice cream in a church, together with the strap line "Immaculately conceived". Also he showed two interracial male priests seductively about to kiss. Using this as an influence I knew straight away I wanted to use photography as a mode of design to display my imagery.

I used this as influence to develop and create more controversial and kitsch style work, and progressively I have created a photography kitsch bible of my work, representing this notion of camp, vibrancy, sexualization and homoeroticism for my visual outcome. 

My Kitsch Way

Going Towards my Final year of uni! Entering the world of dissertations! My thesis was based on 'Kitsch and 'Queer Concepts' and how they are interpreted within the design world. 

Throughout my project of Kitsch and Queer concepts, I progressively identified my niche style, and it has helped me develop my disciplinary. 

I started of by investigating many artists and also theorists, who identify queer concepts, using their ideologies and inspiration it has gained me the confidence to explore and experiment with the concept of kitsch and also with queer elements.

Here are some samples of my mood board for my photo shoot that i did for my visual representation based on Kitsch, Avant-garde and homoerotic fashion and motifs. 

Mood Board 

A Streetcar Named Don Giovanni

This would have to be one of my favourite projects I have ever done! 


The project brief, set in the end of unit 6 in my second year of CSM, was titled 'Don Giovanni'.


Based on an opera about a man called Don Giovanni, a young, arrogant, sexually promiscuous nobleman who abuses and outrages everyone else in the cast, until he encounters something he cannot kill, beat up, dodge, or outwit. 


The project was to recreate 6 scenes from the opera, using our own interpretation.  


Here is my mood board, I always have to do mood boards first so I can grasp the atmosphere and the aesthetics of my piece of work.

I based my interpretation on the play and its movie adaptation, 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. It is one of the best movies I have ever seen. I entwined both of these story lines, and created a series of 6 images representing 'Don Giovanni', with the aesthetics and characters of 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. Blanche DuBois is my 'Don Giovanni'. 


She is an amazing character, with passion and charisma just like Don Giovanni!  



I used photo montage, and Photoshop for layering and painting! :)

Steven Klein

Steven Klein, one of my favourite photographers!

His images are extremely influential to me! 

Klein's very quirky, and tantalizing imagery is simply amazing!