Beautiful

Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan | DEFIANCE

DEFIANCE IS A DUET, EXPLORING HOMO-EROTICIZED DISPLAY OF THE ELUSIVE AND SEXUALIZED BEAUTY OF THE MALE FORM. IT IS RONALD NYEIN ZAW TAN’S PERSONAL SOJOURN ON BLURRED BOUNDARIES, CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO IMAGES OF THE FINE-ART MALE NUDES. BY EARNING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE FROM HIS SUBJECTS, HE GAIN ACCESS TO THEIR PRIVATE SANCTUM, WHERE THEY PERMIT HIM TO PHOTOGRAPH THEIR SEXUAL-SELF, LEAVING NOTHING TO HIS IMAGINATION.

To understand DEFIANCE one need to understand the artist. Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan, also credited as Ronald N. Tan, grew up in a conservative Burmese culture where topics of sexuality were taboo. He grew up feeling remorse, embarrassed and ashamed of how he felt towards men. When Ronald started photography and especially when he became more and more comfortable in the discipline, he discovered this could be a medium that would help him to express his inner feelings. In February 2010 he started a project which was then called Personal Project and which has now evolved in DEFIANCE.

Not only did Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan want to confront his Burmese upbringing and culture, he also wanted to challenge what the LGBT community considers the beauty standard: status-quo images of fine-art male nudes that mostly comprise of Caucasian male models. So, even though he did also include Caucasian models, his album is a colorful collection of mostly Black/African-American, Latino/Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander male volunteers. Most of them never modeled nude before but were curious, just like the artist himself, in exploring their abilities and to see how far they could go. For Ronald himself DEFIANCE also became a revelation. It opened his eyes and heart to people whom otherwise he probably never would have associated with. Professionally and personally. That and the level of sexuality he was able to achieve: “It was kind of shocking to me that I was capable to thinking and actually earning the trust from my models to capture them in their heightened sexual display.”

Yes the images contain penises, but be not mistaken. Both photographer and model have something to say and some point to prove to themselves. And the rest of the world. It is beautiful to see how much appreciation Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan received with his DEFIANCE as it is shocking that there are still people who are judgmental and voice negativity towards male nudity. Even in the professional environment. Ronald has summoned up courage and backbone to openly announce and reveal his personal project and worked strictly with volunteers who did exactly the same. Which is something to be rejoiced and respected. And so, even though some suggested to tone it down a little bit, Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan has no intention to do so. There is no prize for “I wanted to do something but didn’t because some people might no like it.”

DEFIANCE has come to a conclusion in a fantastic photo book. More then just another book showing nudity, DEFIANCE is first of all a statement. “Part of DEFIANCE's multifaceted goals is trying to change minds and hearts about the subject matter. Some of the subjects (volunteers) have been changed since they contributed to my project. This is based on their direct feedback which I provided as captions on the image.” Bold, raw and daring, with beautiful photography set against different cultural backgrounds, DEFIANCE is a rewarding journey for Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan that, even though the book is about to arrive, has most likely (and hopefully) not come to an end yet. –BM-

For more information on Ronald Nyein Zaw Tan’s DEFIANCE we recommend to visit the dedicated area on the artist’s webpage, as well as the special thread on his Model Mayhem profile which shows an interesting discussion on the subject.

RONALD NYEIN ZAW TAN | BEAUTIFULMAG

Jeffrey Horvitz | Vitality

SAN FRANCISCO NATIVE JEFFREY HORVITZ SEES THE QUEER APERTURE PROJECT AS A WAY TO EXPRESS HIMSELF AS A GAY MAN AND ALSO AS A WAY TO FIT INTO THE LARGER FABRIC OF THE GAY COMMUNITY. WE SEE IT AS A GALLERY OF PHOTOGRAPHS THAT PLAY IN THE FIELD OF GAY ART BUT ARE OF SUCH AN AMAZING DIVERSITY THAT THE GAY ASPECT IS ALMOST SECONDARY TO IT. ALMOST…

“Through the Queer Aperture project I’ve met all kinds of people who don’t define themselves as either all gay or all straight, but rather are all over the spectrum,” says Jeffrey Horvitz explaining his work.  “That’s why one of the most important aspects of Queer Aperture is its allies. My straight friends and family, who don't view being gay as out of the norm, has made it quite a bit easier to be who I am.”  But you probably don’t know what we are talking about. To understand it better, you really should visit Jeffrey’s Queer Aperture website. Go on, you know you want to do it. We will wait for you here.

Queer Aperture is a project that visualizes different aspects of homosexuality and humanity. The projects currently consists out of 7 different galleries that all in one way or the other refer to different aspects of gay life. When you see the title of each gallery it puts a certain expectation in your mind. However, when you enter the individual series you discover the enormous diversity in which Jeffrey illustrated his vision. That speaks of great creative talent. That ability to approach one theme in different ways and give it numerous faces.

PRIDE is what it is. A series of portraits in which the proud rainbow configuration stands central. But in such a way that it accentuates the humanity and sensibility of those carrying that pride. STAND OUT is a set of portraits that makes the featured models remarkable in their simplicity. Standing out by being yourself. LGBT ATHLETES leaves little to the imagination, but then again here too you do not get what you would expect. Through the models are athletes, but their poses are examples of serenity and confidence. More with their own being then with their sportive achievements. One of our favorites is PINK CHAIR, a series of photos featuring men and women in their personal behavior and image that they have embraced, displayed on the pink chair as a pedestal of sexual pride. And of course VITALITY.

It was while Jeffrey Horvitz was working on a new conceptual project named Le Petite Morte that one of the models he worked with took his own life. Taken aback by this event, Jeffrey became obsessed with imagery that reflected afterlife, intense life and the meaning of life and death. He began to watch films which utilized nature and everlasting life and listened to music which echoed the same themes. And finally he came to the decision to shoot something beautiful to give meaning to his own experience. He used beautiful men in equally beautiful settings and gave it a dreamlike, mysterious look and feel. And by doing so he transformed his Le Petite Morte in a whole new concept that he named VITALITY. A word that refers to the place between the living and unloving. And with that, Jeffrey Horvitz created a new gallery in his Queer Aperture project. A project that paints the struggles of gay men and women – and people in general – and portrays them in their most vulnerable mirror images. –BM-

JEFFREY HORVITZ | BEAUTIFULMAG

BeautifulMag Cover Story | JP Santamaria's Wild Boys

WHAT DEFINES A WILD BOY. THAT IS A QUESTION NOT EASILY ANSWERED. THERE IS PROBABLY A DIFFERENT DEFINITION DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK. IF YOU ASK US, A WILD BOY IS THE KIND OF GUY WHO DOESN’T CARE ABOUT CONVENTIONS. WHO LAUGHS IN THE FACE OF SOCIAL NORMS. WHO DARES TO SHOCK IN ORDER TO OPEN OTHER PEOPLE’S MIND AND CHANGE THEIR VIEWS AND OPINIONS. IF THAT IS WHAT DEFINES A WILD BOY, THAN JUAN PABLO SANTAMARIA IS DEFINITELY WORTHY CARRYING THAT LABEL.

The Juan Pablo Santamaria studio delivers the perfect mix of graphic design and photography at its highest level and in an unbeatable quality. Wow… that is a mouth full and quite a promise to live up to. But Juan Pablo Santamaria does it without blinking his eyes. Because he is brave and bold. He is a wild boy.

The distance between Madrid and Barcelona is roughly 500 kilometers (310 miles), depending if you travel in a straight line or if you decide to take some extra turns. Which, according to Juan Pablo Santamaria, you very well might do. According to his Wild Boys series it is definitely worth the extra miles. All the photos in this particular gallery are men Juan Pablo found between Barcelona and the Spanish capital city and beyond. In other words, all over Spain. They are dancers and doctors, actors and waiters, designers, escorts and porn stars… you name it. Juan Pablo has made it his personal mission to trace down every hot guy on the Iberian peninsula and immortalize them in their wildest behavior. Hence the Wild Boys series, which are without doubt an open invitation to visit the land or sun, sea, oranges, paella and – apparently – exceptionally hot guys.

Does this make Juan Pablo Santamaria a Wild Boy himself. Maybe not in the definition we gave before. But let me tell you something else about this remarkable photographer/designer from Spain. Recently Juan Pablo was asked by online dating service Manhunt to shoot their latest campaign and he came up with work that has popped up on massive billboards all around the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City. The photo, showing two half naked men about to share an intense kiss has provoked quite some controversy in the United States. Mainly because American parents do not want to be confronted with how to explain to their curious children why two gorgeous looking men are kissing, though the fact one of them is wearing military dog tags might also have something to do with it. The campaign has been discussed in papers and magazines and was even a hot topic on Fox News. No pun intended. And that gentlemen, makes Juan Pablo Santamaria a Wild Boy in every sense of the word. –BM-

JUAN PABLO SANTAMARIA | BEAUTIFULMAG

European Gay Ski Week 2012 | Don't Miss it

LAST YEARS EUROPEAN GAY SKI WEEK WAS THE BEST ONE EVER. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS IN TIGNES, EGSW SETTLED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALPE D’HUEZ AND THE WELCOME WAS OVERWHELMING. AND SO THE ORGANIZATION OF THIS LARGEST, LOUDEST AND MOST FABULOUS GAY AND LESBIAN WINTER SPORTS EVENT HAS DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE WONDERFUL RESORT OF ALPE D’HUEZ FOR YET ANOTHER EVENT THAT PROMISES TO OUTSHINE THE PREVIOUS ONE.

From March 24 to March 31 2012, the Euopean Gay Ski Week event will once again move to Alpe d’Huez and turn this resort in the gayest village ever in Europe. Whether you already joined last year in this resort, or if you are new to join, EGSW guarantees in 2012 you are in for a treat. Moving away from the blocks and bunkers from les Bergers, EGSW will settle in the heart of Alpe d’Huez and has found superb accommodations all centered around the cosy Avenue de Jeux. Meaning everyone will be within as close proximity to each other as you'd like resulting in the closest thing to a gay village that any ski resort has ever seen. EGSW guarantees for the last week of March 2012 in Alpe d'Huez you will never be lost or alone.

The EGSW is for all levels of snowmanship. Whether you're a slalom medallist, an absolute beginner or a frostie frolicker - or even if you're just coming for the fun and parties - there is plenty to keep you occupied. Let’s start with the real purpose of the trip: snow sports. No matter what level you are, there are ski and board possibilities for all, varying from free guiding services for the more adventurous to numerous classes dedicated to different levels of experience and pedestrian passes for non-skiers. And if you decide to give it a rest for a day, there is also the possibility to spend some quality time in Alpe d’Huez’ fabulous outdoor pool, jaccuzzi and sauna, free accessible for EGSW members and an absolute treat, considering the village has an average of 300 days of sunshine by year. And if you follow the printed program, you can still take a lift up the mountain to join one of the spectacular après-ski parties.

Skiing and snowboarding is fun, but the best part is, when you – tired but satisfied – arrive at the point of destination and are able to jump right into one of the fantastic après-ski events organized by EGSW. Like last year, EGSW famous après-ski events promise to put any tea dance to shame. It is here, more then anywhere else, where you meet your fellow European Gay Ski Week participants. It is here where you make new friendships or renew old acquaintances, and it is here where you… oh well, you can figure that one out yourself, can’t you?

1 resort, 1 week and about 1,200 gay men and women. 250km of pistes, 50 events and 30 DJ’s. Gyms, spas, saunas and pools. Cabaret nights, the unrivaled EGSW Pool Party, film nights and the unique EGSW après-ski events. Raclette, fondue and fine dining opportunities. Whether you prefer to exhaust yourself on the slopes, the sauna or the dancefloor, you’ll find it all at EGSW 2012. There simply is no reason not to join this most festive gay ski event of all. –BM-

EGSW 2012 takes place from March 24 to March 31 2012. Find out more about EGSW 2012, the events, the location and accommodations, prices and how to subscribe at EuropeanGaySkiWeek.com. To subscribe click on the banner on the right hand side of our home page.

EGSW 2012 | BEAUTIFULMAG

Komar's Nude Male Form

MALE NUDES. IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE TALK ABOUT IT AND IT IS MOST CERTAINLY NOT THE LAST TIME EITHER. THE BEAUTY OF THE MALE BODY, THE AESTHETIC LINES OF THE MALE FORM WITH A HARDNESS THAT REVEALS THE STRENGTH OF HIDDEN MUSCLES AND A ROUNDNESS THAT EXPRESSES A SENSUAL SOFTNESS. IT IS AN ART FORM ALL BY ITSELF AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE, NEEDS TO BE, REJOICED AND CELEBRATED. AGAIN AND AGAIN.

Several years in art study and practicing the art of painting, combined with photographic skills and his ongoing search for the best toned male models to be found have finally paid of. Under the title Nude Male Forms, photographer Komar has self published his first artistic photo book. Born as Piotrek in Poland 35 years ago, Komar now lives in the United Kingdom where he embraced his childhood nickname to be his professional pseudonym. As Komar he build name for himself in the British capital and beyond as photographer and as Komar he has created an impressive gallery of creative and artistic nude portraits.
If you would Google Komar’s photo book Nude Male Forms you will soon discover there is not much information to be found on it. Yet. Rest assured Nude Male Forms is everything it promises to be. And more. The title, simple as it is, explains it best. Yes the models are male and yes they are nude. But more then that, they are represented as objects of beauty. As art. Komar has used sensational light sources and techniques to paint us a world of sensuality and emotions that only can be achieved by focusing on those most personal and intimate body shapes. Sometimes full bodies, sometimes close croppings and sensuous details. Sometimes solo models and sometimes couples, entangled in loving embraces. Komar gives it all in this wonderful photo book that counts 80 pages of beauty and joy. Nude Male Forms is a must have for the fan of the beauty of male physiques. –BM-

Nude Male Forms can be purchased at Blurb and comes in softcover, hardcover with dust jacket and hardcover with image wrap.

KOMAR | BEAUTIFULMAG
NUDE MALE FORMS | BEAUTIFULMAG