Ink Study by J.Cassoni

PEOPLE SAY ALL THE TIME THAT IF YOU WANT SOMETHING, YOU JUST HAVE TO GO FOR IT. WE ARE NO EXCEPTION TO THAT. BUT SOMETIMES IT IS JUST EASIER SAID THAN DONE. SOMETIMES THE REALITY IS MUCH DIFFERENT. OR, TO FOLLOW THE WISE WORDS OF PHILOSOPHER JAGGER, YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT. AND THAN THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO JUST DON’T TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER.

It has been a year since we have had the pleasure of enjoying the work by J.Cassoni. His first feature, portraying Truman as his super hero interpretation in that sober, quite style that is so characteristic for his work turned out to be an interlude for a long period of silence. But now J.Cassoni is back with another series that, besides that sense of moderation, is so different form his previous work, that is makes you wonder what drove the Atlanta based photographer to come to this result.

2010 has been a touch year for J.Cassoni. Plagued by personal burdens he found himself in a dark place for several months, preventing him from creating is art. But he came out of it, maybe more cynical and jaded than he was before, and with a life experience that is hard to accept but that left him with a new found strength. It took him some time to get back into the swing of things, but he made it and found an outlet of his darker feelings in his creativity. And even though this set with model Cory isn’t what J.Cassoni calls angry, it does show a new found force that might not have been there if things would have played out differently during last year.

Like J.Cassoni, Cory originates form Atlanta, but has recently moved to New York City to follow his dreams. At the time of the shoot he was still in Atlanta, and it seems that the ambition to move to NYC was already clear in his head. Cory seems driven, ready to go. Sometimes people say that if you want something you have to go for it and create your own chances. It isn’t always that easy and not everyone is capable of doing so, but Cory seems to be the kind of guy who has set some clear goals for himself and is determined to get there. Moving to New York is one step on the way. The attitude Cory show in these portraits seems to offer you two choices: either you help him or you get out of his way. Cory has a strong personality that will help him to achieve his goals, and J.Cassoni has been able to perfectly illustrate that character in this series. Rough, raw and direct.

Over the years Cory has covered parts of his body with tattoo’s in patterns that seem to reflect his bold and direct personality. These drawings in combination with Cory’s character were the inspiration of J.Cassoni’s Ink Study. Slightly sober and dark, these photographs express the artists own personal struggle. About tattoo’s J.Cassoni says: "It's true that they don't always work on everyone. But when done right, either through the quality of work or the subject matter chosen, I think they can round out a person or at least highlight what that person is trying to say about themselves. It's destructive and primitive and that's what I like about it."

Between February 5 and March 14, J.Cassoni’s work can be enjoyed at PB&J, a local Atlanta art galley that runs a fantastic photography exhibition, including 4 different photographers. Among other work, some of the Ink Study photographs is part of this show. -BM-

J.CASSONI | BEAUTIFULMAG

Comments

[Gouli]

I like tattoes. Great.

J'aime les tatouages, les siens sont très beaux.

[sugarboi2004]

Wow! Cory is sexy...... After a long time, looking at sexy model. Thankz Beautiful mag for making Day......

[tony]

I loath tatts - to me they are like vandalism - these beautiful bodies scribbled with these mesningles notations - how sad - so easy to impose upon the flesh and so hard to erase.