Looking for the ocean behind me

The unobtrusive background makes the subjects the centre of attention, but the space it gives them for their ‘appearance’ is limited by the natural border of the ocean behind them. In the distance, beyond the horizon, the longings and dreams of other continents begin.

My photographer’s gaze – that of a white female stranger – is focused on these men. They return my gaze directly but cautiously, posing for the camera, but also for me. The light emphasizes their bodies and at the same time underscores the fragility of the mood. The concentration between the photographer/viewer and the subjects is palpable. The uncertain stakes on both sides, social, cultural, economic and sexual, produce an ambivalent situation. Different viewpoints and identities are mixed up and the mutual scrutiny redefines the relationship between subject and object.

Aus/From «Looking for the Ocean behind me», 2010
C-prints