A Man of Many Divas - Juan Pablo Echeverri

January 5, 2012 2:21 AM

A Man of Many Divas - Juan Pablo Echeverri
posted by beshtya (6 comments total)

This is pretty remarkable, he seems able to create very different personae, even in the photo-booth work. Except for that fixed serial-killer stare; that's in every one.
posted by chavenet at 2:35 AM on January 5, 2012

Except for that fixed serial-killer stare; that's in every one

It's a great project! I agree that the eyes look the same in all (may have been deliberate to keep some sort of consistency?)

To get around this, he could have really cut loose and tried remodelling every aspect of his face... Maybe some radical eyebrow sculpting (large bushy eyebrows or no eye brows at all) or a range of wild contact lenses.
posted by greenhornet at 2:50 AM on January 5, 2012

I like photo booth art, though I prefer a naturalistic plot structure and story arc. For example, Howard & Kelly is an engaging series of four photographs, and its sequel is equally gripping. Notice (on the left) the progressive craziness of their relationship. Their first moments together, as displayed in the first image, are awkward but hopeful. The second and third images portray their emerging awareness that perhaps their togetherness is an absurd fiction. And the fourth image solidifies this understanding, as Howard & Kelly are both drawn toward manic deviations from their partnership. Who hasn't had a crazy relationship like that? Then (on the right) in the first image there is an obvious attempt to portray their relationship as a happy one, as Howard & Kelly attempt to hold tightly to their common bond, but nobody is fooled by their superficial happiness. In the second image on the right, their true feelings become evident, as each gestures in a menacing fashion, pointing finger-guns in the air, clearly wishing they could point those guns at at each other. In the third image they both realize that those guns could just as well have pointed at themselves, and we, the viewer, join them in recognizing that many of the faults we attribute to others might as well be faults that only now we belatedly recognize in ourselves. The fourth image provides a sense of resolution and reconciliation, as it becomes clear that Howard & Kelly truly love each other, and have learned deep lessons together from their time in the photo booth.
posted by twoleftfeet at 3:08 AM on January 5, 2012

I really like the projects, the latest one with the superhero set is lovely. Don't miss his videos.

Could be worth noting there's a fair amount of NSFW content on the second link, the artists own site. He's appears to be hung like a horse.
posted by Iteki at 4:00 AM on January 5, 2012

Except for that fixed serial-killer stare; that's in every one

Big deal; I have seen all of these guys on the wall at the post office. Wait, it was one guy? He is a master of disguise!
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:47 AM on January 5, 2012

To get around this, he could have really cut loose and tried remodelling every aspect of his face... Maybe some radical eyebrow sculpting (large bushy eyebrows or no eye brows at all) or a range of wild contact lenses.

He does do that. Go through his series, you will find little touches that make you wonder the things he has done with and to his body.
posted by beshtya at 9:14 AM on January 5, 2012