Mermen are legendary water spirits and the male equivalent of the popular mermaids. Much less known, they are often portrayed with green seaweed-like hair, pig like little eyes, a red nose an green pointed teeth. Completely stupid of course. Because we know as a fact that mermen are stunning examples of masculinity. Dark haired, broad-chested fellows, with light blue eyes that shine light reflections on the surface of the ocean and strong and melancholic facial features. And unlike the stories, they do not have a fishtail from their waist down. That would be a shame, wouldn’t it. No, mermen are mostly seen in tight fitting blue jeans. Wet of course. One element in mythology is true though. Mermen are rare. You don’t see them every day. In fact, you hardly see them at all. But if you want to see one, we happen to know that the best place to spot them is Poland.
Earlier this year we introduced you to Maciej Grochala. Maciej – Mat for his friends – is a 41 years old photographer living and working in Poland. Following his interest and the inspiration he found in some masters of photography, he picked up the art himself and rapidly developed himself as a well skilled, self-taught photographer. As we mentioned before, it is still not so easy in Poland to find men who are willing to bare it all in front of a camera, but Maciej is blessed with a large group of friends and acquaintances, who also have other friends and acquaintances. And so, through the never failing system of word to mouth, Mat has been able to built quite an interesting portfolio of male model imagery, next to his other work such as architecture, fashion and art photography.
Jacub Jasinski was born in the little town of Olecko but has since then moved to Gdańsk. Gdańsk is one of Poland’s bigger cities and is located at the border to the Baltic Sea. Gdańsk is know for a local liqueur, called Goldwasser (gold water) and the creation of this alcoholic beverage is a legend by itself, that brings us back to the topic of today. In the center of the city stands an impressive fountain, sculpted in the person of Neptune. The fountain has been a symbol for Gdańsk since it was erected in 1633. As it seems to be common with monumental fountain, many people started to throw coins in the basin. Something that after a little while became quiet an annoyance for the King of the Seas. In fact Neptune, already know for his short temper, became to irritated with all that gold, he raised his trident and hit the water so hard that the gold fell into pieces, forming small golden flakes which now shine in the tasty herbal liqueur.
Inspired by this tale, Maciej Grochala took his latest discovery Jacub Jasinski to the water front and had him pose between the mossy rocks that give the Gdansk coastline such a mysterious and romantic look. The result: a set of portraits that places Jacub in the character of a modern day Neptune, a merman that, if you want, could seduce you with one look of his light blue eyes and take you with him into the deep to dwell forever is his exotic underwater kingdom. –B-
Never knew that mermen had such great abs!
Posted by: Steve | August 15, 2010 at 06:56 AM
LOVING THE MERMEN!
Posted by: thegayte-keeper | August 16, 2010 at 12:52 AM