Beschreibung
The Cost of Being a Man explores masculinity as a constructed identity, shaped by external expectations and internal conflict. The work questions how much of what we define as “manhood” is truly personal and how much is socially imposed. The physical intervention on the face symbolises pressure, transformation and the fragmentation of identity, inviting the viewer to reflect on the invisible weight of masculine norms.
The artwork combines digital processes with physical intervention. A self-portrait was digitally manipulated in Photoshop, where the metal studs were designed and integrated into the composition. The image was then produced as a laser print on paper, mounted in a frame hand-painted with glossy black acrylic paint, enhanced with real metal studs of varying sizes, and finally sealed with a pour of clear epoxy resin, replacing the traditional protective glass and creating depth together with a high-gloss finish.
