[suit.a.ble] Suit Velour
In this enigmatic portrait, one is beckoned toward a convergence of contrasts and contradictions rich with the symbolism of consumer capitalism. At its heart lies a couple, each adorned in velour tracksuits, their presence a testament to the duality of human existence amidst the trappings of material opulence.
Seated, the man commands attention with an air of self-assuredness, his velour attire and sunglasses exuding an aura of ostentatious wealth. With a cigar poised between his lips, he counts his money with a calculated precision, each bill a symbol of his material conquests and financial dominion. Behind him, his partner strikes a dramatic pose of defiance and self-expression, her form draped in a pink velour tracksuit that shimmers with the vibrancy of spun silk. Her roller skates evoke a sense of whimsical abandon and exuberance, and her gaze fixed upwards with a palpable sense of the spiritually sublime.
Between the couple stands a staircase, its ascension into the unknown mirroring the tumultuous journey of human ambition and desire. Each step becomes a metaphor for the trials and tribulations of life, a reminder of the obstacles that must be overcome in pursuit of worldly success and spiritual fulfilment. Also adjacent stands a piece of machinery, its intricate mechanisms hinting at the grinding and dehumanizing responsibilities that churn civic duties and responsibilities into distortions of the divine human spirit longing to be free and creating a charged distance between the lovers. Symbolizing the challenges of human relationships to keep pace with the relentless march of technological change amidst late stage capitalism, the machine becomes a silent and grotesque observer to the scene unfolding before it, a testament to the ingenuity and innovation that define and challenge the human experience.
Surrounding them, the mise-en-scène is infused with surreal details that defy conventional interpretation. The table, laden with currency and liquor, becomes a symbol of the paradox of success.
In this surreal ballet of wealth and whimsy, we are invited to contemplate the complexities of human desire and ambition, and the eternal quest for meaning and fulfilment in a world that oscillates between illusion, delusion, hedonism and responsibility.
Thanks to Cam Whitehead for the very suitable writing
This photograph is one of 10 images produced for the [suit.a.ble] photo exhibition on March 2nd. If you would like to read about the exhibition itself CLICK HERE