Matthew ventured into photography in 2017, focusing on fashion. However, when the Covid-19 pandemic started, he was compelled to explore concepts such as mental health, politics, race, and themes regarding the LGBTQ+ community.
Creating a multitude of series to tell various stories, Matthew values the need for each studio photo to be accompanied with a short text that contextualizes each image. Each photo and its text serve as a mechanism for Matthew’s introspection; why he took the photo, and the state of his subconsciousness. Matthew hopes the viewer walks away with a greater value for self-introspection, and therefore self-care. [Official Website]
Hydration (From the “Seeking Foundation” series)
“I’ve grown to love water, a resource I once took for granted. Rather than drink an alcoholic beverage, I hydrate with water to remain centered. Rather than fuel myself with caffeine, I lean on water for energy. The more I consume water, the better my body feels, supporting a balanced mental state.”
Morality (From the “Seeking Foundation” series)
“Despite its zealous and misguided followers, religion has some good moral teachings: Love thy neighbor; Do onto others as you would do unto yourself; Do not kill; Do not steal; The concept of reincarnation, etc. I try to heed these moral teachings to enrich my character foundations”.
Furious Mime (From the “Spirit Of The Night” series)
“One night, Asra was assaulted by someone deemed more superior by repugnant societal standards. Rightfully so, she was furious: Her very humanity was violated. But what further enraged Asra was that even though she told loved ones of the experience, a disclosure that felt like a confession, nothing was done to avenge her. Asra bellowed her anguish, only for the world to hear nothing”.
Nightcrawler (From the “Spirit Of The Night” series)
“Little did Asra know, her feelings of unworthiness drove her to nocturnal activities outside of safe spaces. Asra had a subconscious need to feel something. As Asra became older, the dangers of the unknown night became apparent to her. And so, she found more self-worth sleeping early than wondering the perilous night streets”.
That Moment (From the “Halcyonic Dream” series)
“I dreamt of the moment when we see ourselves reflected in each other. That undeniable feeling of euphoria. I dreamt that we’d explore our pasts, and then discover our future”
Disconnection (From the “Romantic Strain” series)
“Failure, collaborators, and empty fulfillment from music endeavors all made me furious, timid, and insecure. I spent so much time on something that didn’t materialize. I didn’t like the state of myself… I fell from one purgatorial place to another; I wanted to create but didn’t trust my creative impulses. A painful feeling; Self-inflicted arson committed by a fiery soul.”
Vulnerability (From the “Gender Fluid Study” series)
“I learned something; Gender Fluidity is a perilously vulnerable act. Insecure individuals may see willingly-vulnerable people as a threat; A freed individual may expose a void in another. Survival, then, becomes necessary: Conform in public, but be yourself in welcomed settings. The result, unfortunately, is that one discounts themselves to protect insecure strangers from that void… Overcoming this paradox has to be a monumental task”.
“What Do You See”? (From the “Ancestral Peace” series)
“What Do You See?”
“I Hope My Heart Recognizes Reality”
“I Hope My Heart Recognizes Reality”
Expanding Vista (From the “Wondrous Embrace” series)
“Bit by bit, Carlo felt what was foreign to him; raw emotions that were not conventionally associated with a “man”. He liked it; Carlo cried, smiled, learned to address issues, and craved intimacy outside of sex. These experiences made him happier, flowing vitality through his body and mind. Carlo began to wonder what else is there to this other side of masculinity”.
