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Brooklyn-based mixed media artist James Gardella turns to self-portraiture in attempts to please and bemuse his viewers. Fresh from exhibiting in Miami during Art Basel week, he is excited to share new provocative work on Balaclava.Q.
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An experienced performer and model, the artist enjoys transforming himself through his work, and is particularly attracted to the bizarre and beautiful. From shoot to shoot, he varies the styling, props, and costumes to showcase different facets of his identity and interests.
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James uses this project to explore notions of self and sexuality within the digital age. Shot alone in a bedroom, the photographs blur the line between public and private, challenging viewers to question whether this work is highly intimate and personal, or superficial and attention-seeking. James wonders if the life of an artist itself is exhibitionistic, and thus for some, fetishistic?
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By posing with pieces such as a lycra mask, wig, and roses, James references powerful symbols in BDSM and queer art contexts to reflect his career-long positioning within multiple communities.
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To explore James’ work further, visit Instagram and Artsy.
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To explore more queer contemporary art please visit www.balaclavadotq.net.
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