Theo Boltman - "Men at Work"

My work explores the complexities and contrasts between old and new masculinity, and how even in modern times where men’s bodies are looked at in a way of love and beauty, older men still aren’t represented in that demographic. I am creating a work based in a warehouse that explores this by having older men shirtless, wearing long flower dresses to juxtapose the masculinity they were brought up with (men working in a blue collar job presenting their masculinity) to the current form (men allowed to be feminine and enjoy frivolous clothing).

I am intending to communicate to the audience how older men’s bodies have been pushed out of the mainstream media because they are not considered youthful, their bodies cannot be capitalised on, and they are not stereotypically attractive. I want the work to be a moment of confrontation for the audience as they question how often they see men’s bodies in the media. I also want the audience to be shocked by the work, and consider what part they have played in the vilification of older men's bodies and how they have perceived them up until this point.