Men Deserve Flowers Too, an artistic social commentary celebrating masculinity in its many forms. The multifaceted project opens up conversation surrounding gender, culture, identity and how social norms affect our relationship with nature. Inspired by the idea that men only receive flowers in death - was something that really spoke to me in the way that we view the bounds for what masculinity is.
Men Deserve Flowers Too isn’t to force men to have flowers or even like them, as a flower lover, flowers especially roses act somewhat like a vessel to break down the structures of toxic masculinity because of their symbolism... A delicate flower, contrasted with the rough macho imagery of what it is to be “masculine” visually and physically revealed a softness in participants. The aim is to create waves in the structure of unhealthy masculinity and for men to be given a choice in recieving flowers, in life not just death. As gender is a spectrum it’s important to show how the representation of masculinity will differ across men from all races, sexualities, ages, cultures and walks of life capturing as many stories as possible. To document giving men a safe space to talk about topics that might bring out an unseen side about relationships, what masculinity is to them.
Series 1: Men Deserve Flowers Too is a 16 piece photo series featuring men from varying backgrounds, who open up about their experiences and personal relationship with nature. The images show the intimate and physical relationship between man and nature, as the plant roots interlock growing around parts of the gentlemen. The series also delves into how the four men feel about receiving flowers or not, following diary entries from each individual inspired by photographer Peter Devito.
Series 2: The Public Portraits are a series of photographs from interviews conducted with the general public sharing their relationship with nature and masculinity. The portraits are taken in an experimental documentary style that will accompany the soon to be released film. The perception of receiving flowers from the men seemed almost unnatural, some not even knowing how to hold it. She wanted to capture the genuine surprise of being handed a flower. A crucial part of the project for her is the authenticity and honesty comments from all the men about their lives. She noticed when talking about nature and their relationship with it, many then opened up about other topics like relationships, social pressures of being a male, mental health etc.
Series 3: I See Three is a 9 Piece fashion series exploring masculinity from the black male perspective. The photographs are made up of three men who reflect the black experience in visually poetic and thought invoking ways. Inspired by Seye Isikalu and Nona Faustine, the photographs touch on the unsettling relationship black men have with the Police. I See Three sees the importance in displaying the black masculine in a positive light through brotherhood, warmth and playfulness. Each man is intentionally shot and edited in a different way to compliment their personality as an individual and connection to nature. The way roses have been used in fashion and history to generate symbolism, a garment that replicates that of a bullet proof vest felt like the perfect contradiction of a product of violence to be worn in a natural setting. I See Three is protest art through imagery.
