Meet the Sphinx

IT IS SAID IN THE OLD STORIES THAT THE SPHINX – HALF MAN AND HALF LION - WAS SENT BY THE GODS TO STAND GUARD NEXT TO THE CITY OF THEBES. AND ANYONE WHO WAS TO PASS BY HAD TO SOLVE A RIDDLE. THOSE WHO FAILED TO ANSWER CORRECTLY WERE CONSUMED. BUT IF EVER SOMEONE WOULD COME AND SOLVE THE RIDDLE, THE SPHINX WOULD TURN ITSELF IN STONE. THE SPHINX ASKED THE SAME RIDDLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR CENTURIES TO FOLLOW UNTIL, ONE DAY, A YOUNG MAN APPROACHED AND MADE THE CHALLENGE. ‘WHAT GOES ON FOUR LEGS IN THE MORNING, TWO AT NOON, AND ON THREE LEGS IN THE EVENING?’ ASKED THE SPHINX. TO ITS HORROR, THE YOUNG MAN ANSWERED CORRECTLY, FORCING THE SPHINX TO HONOR ITS PROMISE.

If this story has any truth in it, the Gods were a busy kind. Because Sphinxes were found not only Ancient Greece, but in many other civilizations. Most famous of all of course the Great Sphinx of Gaza. Truth is the Sphinx is one of the most enigmatic appearances and survivors of our history and the biggest riddle is probably what its true role was. But many people have been inspired by the mythological figure of the Sphinx, including young photographer Thomas Bourry.

Thomas Bourry lives and works in the German city Cologne. He started playing with the photo camera in 2006. First in front, but very soon he changed places and took the camera in his own hands. Over the past years he has shot more then 100 different men, mainly from Cologne, all amateurs. He finds his models though the online dating service GayRomeo, where he himself also built a portfolio under the name Sphinx. By working this way, he has been able to find a consistency in his work, focusing on photographs that talk about passion, desire and lust.

Thomas chooses to take a most original view on photography. He does not believe a photo can be natural or realistic: "Every image is a construction. The frame always creates a specific reality." Thomas creates his own universe with its own rules and meanings in which only he knows the answers to the stories he want to tell. "For this reason I work in black-and-white," he explains, "because the missing of color shows this important difference between reality and a photography. I want to create pictures that tells a story - images which are eye catching, because they show us the mystery of attraction like a mirror of our own desire and lust." His portraits are often wrapped in an atmosphere of intimacy and privacy, which makes his photography as enigmatic as the Sphinx.

Thomas Bourry is 35 years old. He studied theater, film and television science and art history. Focusing on his photography, and realizing his own photographic vision of gay male beauty and desire, he hopes to present his first exhibition later this year. Thomas has several on line portfolios. His professional profile can be found on Model Mayhem. Potential models and those interested in seeing more of Thomas’ work can also visit his GayRomeo profile, where he hosts several photo galleries. Finally, Thomas also has a Flickr page where some of his work can be admired.

Thomas Bourry has unravelled the riddle of capturing male beauty with his photo camera. We do not know what happened to the young man who so successful challenge the old Sphinx, but we can tell you the answer to that century old question: As an infant (morning), we use all four limbs to crawl. As we grow (noon), we learn to walk upright on our legs. In the later part of our life (evening), we are forced to use a walking stick. –B-

THOMAS BOURRY | BEAUTIFULMAG

Comments

[Steve]

Only on BeautifulMag will you find such a thoughtful and informative narrative, accompanied by sensual male images from a talented, new photographer. Incredible!

[Wendell Sanchez]

all of these photos are simple but beautiful they truly are a work of art.