Metamorphosis

The pictures on this series depict a group of artists getting ready for a play about the legacy of Florence Foster Jenkins. Ms. Jenkins was many things, but overall, she represents the freedom to be who you are. Although, she was the recipient of some of the silliest music criticism of all time; she became an icon for standing your ground regardless of what others might think.

These images take this message a step further by challenging traditional gender roles and emphasizing the universal themes of Jenkins' story. By casting men in the role of Jenkins, the images showcase the power of individual expression and the freedom to be oneself, regardless of gender identity or societal expectations. Men dressing as women in Latin America in the 1970s was not visible or accepted. These scenes were linked to an underground movement that supported the LGBTQ+ communities, and that often met with stigma and discrimination.

In Metamorphosis, I thrived to expose the deep melancholy of the moment, as well as the enduring love for the magnificent theatrical gesture. I looked for images that capture the bond between the artist and the person's essence. The looser frame allowed me to create compositions that transcended the image from its ordinary status into something unique. With each take I was hoping to deliver a particular emotion, kind of a blend of something classic with an everlasting experience. A way in which we can all see ourselves echoed in, not as a cliché nostalgic approach, but more in a reflective manner.