Beautiful

Eden

“THE LORD GOD CREATING THE FIRST MAN WHOM HE PLACED IN A GARDEN THAT HE PLANTED "EASTWARD IN EDEN". AND OUT OF THE GROUND MADE THE LORD GOD TO GROW EVERY TREE THAT IS PLEASANT TO THE SIGHT, AND GOOD FOR FOOD; THE TREE OF LIFE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.” - GENESIS 2:4-3:24 –

Since the beginning of time the Garden of Eden has been a source of imagination. Though considered to be mythological by most scholars, there have also been suggestions for actual locations. The head of the Persian Gulf, in southern Iraq has been mentioned. Some also placed it in Iran and Lebanon. Alas, if there ever really was a Garden of Eden, the location is now lost for eternity. Much like Atlantis. But one doesn’t have to travel far to find its own paradise.

If you are a follower of BeautifulMag you might have recognized the photographic style of Gastohn Barrios right away. If not, then certainly his name rings a loud bell. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gastohn Barrios started his successful career first as model and later as photographer. His modelling career brought him all over the globe, resulting in Gastohn living in the United States, Chile, Spain and eventually settling down in Brazil. Until recently that is. Recently Gastohn moved to Mexico City and it is there that he met Daniel Sisniega.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Daniel Sisniega set his first careful steps on the modeling floor at very young age already. He started out as a child for clothing catalogues and from there on his name has been related to fashion columns ever since. In 2012 Daniel won a modeling contest for Andrew Christian, beating no less than 1,000 contestants. 30 years old now, Daniel is a well sought after model and Instagram personality with a fast-growing fan base of already over 170,000 followers.

If you are familiar with Gastohn Barrios’ work, you know that he is a big fan of location shoots and seems to have a talent to always find the most beautiful spots. In other words, it seems safe to say Gastohn know where to find his paradise on earth. No matter in what country he shoots, he always presents us with the most beautiful landscapes. His collaboration with Daniel Sisniega is no exception on that.

This time Gastohn takes us on a trip to Los Dinamos, a natural protected area with an area of 2,429 hectares of forest, waterfalls and cascades of the Magdalena River, the last river of Mexico City. The beautiful park got its name thanks to some old textile mill facilities where electricity was generated from the flowing water. But looking at the photo’s Gastohn took of Daniel, it doesn’t give the impression of a large city park. Indeed, it makes you think you have arrived in Eden, Daniel being the first man on earth.

Though Eden is probably a metaphorical garden, a paradise in words rather than reality, there are people who are still trying to figure out where this wondrous garden could have been located. I dare to say we can stop looking for it. Gastohn Barrios and Daniel Sisniega have just pointed us in the right direction. –BM-

Daniel Sisniega can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
Work from Gastohn Barrios can be seen on his website as well as Instagram and his YouTube channel.

GASTOHN BARRIOS | BEAUTIFULMAG
DANIEL SISNIEGA | BEAUTIFULMAG

 

Quest for beauty

IT IS RARE TO MEET A PERSON WHO IS A KIND-HEARTED AND GENTLE SOUL, A DRIVEN DEFENDER OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY ACCEPTANCE AND A PASSIONATE ARTIST AND BEAUTY SEEKER. DAMIAN SIQUEIROS IS THAT PERSON.

Photographer, visual artist and citizen of the world, he was born in the North-west of Mexico and currently living in Montreal, Canada. Damian Siqueiros’ first mission as an artist is being humane by incorporating into my images, artistic or editorial, a sense of social conscience that betters our life and our social environment. Damian is on a constant quest for beauty. Not the one that is shallow but the deeper sense of beauty. the one that embraces the transformative power art to change our surroundings, or our appreciation of it. Damian’s vision of beauty is dynamic, evolving and non-judgemental.

Our first rencontre with Damian Siqueiros dates back 10 years. Him still at school in Paris, us in the early years of BeautifulMag. After the success of our collaboration with Aymeric Giraudel – The Prophecy – we choose to work with Damian on another artistic project, which became the Chronicles of Desire, a modern interpretation of some of the most beautiful and dramatic myths and legends with one thing in common: irresistible desire. His artistic vision and sublime execution of the project made it immediately clear that we were dealing with a great talent, and the past 10 years are proof we were not wrong. Moving to Canada, Damian made Montreal his home base from which he conquered the world. Not in an aggressive commercial sense, but ever so gently through an aesthetic that draws from the great masters of painting, such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt and JW Waterhouse.

With his work, Damian seeks to provoke emotions, change conversations and respectful confrontation. He has worked with talented people, such as choreographers Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Canadian icon Margie Gillies, for international magazines and clients, like Vogue Mexico, Elle, Esquire, Porrua and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens of Montreal, and won several grants and prizes such as the Public's choice Scotia Bank Prize 2010 in Montreal's Art Souterrain. Through his career Damian has created more than 60 exhibitions in Canada and internationally, notably in Washington D.C at the Art Museum of the Americas, Miami at the Frost Museum, Mexico, South Korea at the MMCA Goyang Residency, Toronto, Montreal and New York, at the prestigious Tambaran gallery. And now a small selection of his magical work can be seen in at the Fotofever exhibition at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris.

Fotofever is an international contemporary photography art fair created by Cécile Schall to encourage everyone to collect photography and support artists during their lifetime. This weekend Fotofever returns to the Carrousel du Louvre for its 7th edition in Paris. With the participation of 100 galleries and publishers from 20 countries, representing 250 artists Fotofever is a must for everyone who is passionate about art and contemporary photography. This year Damian Siqueiros is present, with a selection of his work created in various locations in the world. Another glorious step for this talented artist on his quest to save the world with beauty, one image at a time. –BM-

Damian Siqueiros at Fotofever, represented by Gallerie Youn.
Carrousel du Louvre, épace 302, 99 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris.
Saturday 10 November, 11am – 8pm
Sunday 11 November, 11am – 6pm
18€ full rate/12€ reduced rate.

DAMIAN SIQUEIROS | BEAUTIFULMAG
FOTOFEVER | BEAUTIFULMAG

Salva Me

WHEN TO SAVE THE OTHER IS ALSO TO SAVE HIMSELF. WHEN FLEEING IS ALSO SAVING THE OTHER, AS WELL AS CARING FOR THE HUMAN AS A WHOLE, AND THE LAND THAT CARRIES US.

Heaven and hell are two ideas closely related and, if not jumping into a theological discussion, often the result of human interference with the natural order of things. 10 Years ago, Aymeric Giraudel presented us The Prophecy, the now world famous fresco illustrating the struggle of man to find his way out of chaos to a higher plain of serenity and beauty. An ambitious project and an inspiring prophecy. At that time, passionate and driven as he was, Aymeric must have hoped that The Prophecy could be exactly that: a prophecy for better times to come. Alas, 10 years hence, it seems that we still have a long way to go.

Salva Me is Aymeric Giraudel’s newest body of work and a felicitous successor of The Prophecy. Though very different in execution, Aymeric stays true to his vision and message. Salva Me is an installment of 10 larger than life black and white portraits of people fighting their way out of the heavy burden life has become. The photos are equally beautiful and disturbing and thus provoke exactly the reaction Aymeric intended them to do. His muses seem to be captured in their struggle or revelation, giving the whole scene mystical sensation. As if they are suspended between heaven and hell, with the courage to fight through for themselves and the rest of humankind. Like real life angels leading the way. And just like The Prophecy 10 years ago, Salva Me is well-chosen and well-timed. Because we all need some reminding sometimes.

Saturday November 3 saw the opening of Aymeric Giraudel’s Salva Me exposition in Bordeaux. Accompanied with carefully selected music arrangements and contemporary dance performances that made the portraits literally come to life, the artist made sure his message was heard loud and clear. The vernissage was more than just an exposition of art. It was a full experience, that still can be enjoyed in Le Vivres de l’Art, Bordeaux until November 16. –BM-

Aymeric Giraudel’s Salva Me exposition can be visited until 14 November 2018 at Les Vivres de l'Art - 4 rue Achard - 33300 Bordeaux, on Monday till Friday from 10am to 12h30pm et de 12pm to 6pm.

AYMERIC GIRAUDEL | BEAUTIFULMAG

BeautifulMag #244 November 2018 | Beauty

EDITOR’S LETTER

When it comes to beauty, and I’m talking about the beauty one can see, there are certain definitions that define it. These are not answers that have come to us overnight, but they are the results of long studies that often date back centuries. Having that said, it is also true that the perception of things changes through time. And so, the perception of beauty is no constant either. No matter what study result you follow, at the end of the day beauty is one of those things that remain subjective, variable and unpredictable. What one person loves, another might loath. Personally, I truly believe in the saying that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t stop us of trying to find beauty. Whether by creating it of recognizing it with and in everything we do or experience around us.

If you study history, you discover each period is defined by many variables. Variables that in many cases are also constants though the way we observe them, rely to them and live them, change. Respect and honour. Believes and values. Emotions and attitudes. Things that are by nature beautiful but can easily be turned ugly. Looking back in history we can define periods, but it seems impossible to do so while living one. Still I believe we are standing on the threshold of a new beginning. A new period that cherishes beauty in all its forms. I know I probably sound ridiculous. I mean, you only have to open your Internet browser, your newspaper or turn on your TV to see that the world we are living in is a world of terror, misery, betrayal and disease. But it is exactly because of that that I believe a new era is about to happen. Because it really can’t get any worse and if we wont to survive as a species we need to embrace the beauty that is still around us.

As it is often the case, big movements start with small steps. And as it is often the case those small steps are made by those who have a kind spirit, and open heart and an optimistic attitude. Artists. Artists such as Aymeric Giraudel, who, after a hiatus of ten years presented us with his new instalment Salva Me. A worthy successor of The Prophecy. More about that later. Artists such as Damian Siqueiros, whom we known since the Chronicles of Desire and whom we have followed ever since on his not always easy path to give life to his unequalised vision of beauty. More about that later too.

Alas, much as the opinions about beauty are diverse, there is one thing we can all agree on. We all need beauty in our lives and the world needs it. Maybe a little bit more today than before. Because without beauty in the world, there is no world at all.

Cover photography by Gastohn Barrios.

BEAUTIFULMAG

Control

FOR SOME REASON NEW YORK STILL HAS AND PROBABLY ALWAYS WILL HAVE THAT MAGICAL MAGNETIC EFFECT ON PEOPLE. MANY DREAM TO LIVE THERE. IT IS THE CITY THAT ALL BY ITSELF IS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM. THE CITY WHERE EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE AND ALL DREAMS CAN COME TRUE. SO, IT MUST TAKE SOME SELF-DISCIPLINE TO TURN YOUR BACK ON ALL THAT.

Benjamin Veronis has worked as a clothing designer for many years and lived for that same amount of years in New York. He has lived the life the Big Apple has to offer and enjoyed every bit of it. Until he realized he had come to the “been there and done that” point in his life. That moment that life itself tell you: enough, time to move on. And so, he did.

Benjamin doesn’t do things half. When he came to the decision to cut the umbilical cord that tied him to New York, he cut it with conviction and control and moved all the way to the West Coast. To Palm Springs to be precise. And he not only changed location. He also turned his back on his profession and started a new career. In photography this time. Today he occupies himself with several disciplines of the art. Product and real estate, and we all know that there is some beautiful real estate to be found in Palm Springs and Los Angeles where he also spends a chunk of his time, but also male photography, varying from portrait and headshots, model and fitness photography.

Sergey Korneff is living in Las Vegas, and even though he has adapted himself to American life, there can be no doubt that he of Russian decent. It is because his amazing physique, gained by hours of work out disciple and control. It is because of his short cropped blond hair. And it is because of his sombre, stoic facial expression. Benjamin has worked several times with Sergey and experienced such an ease in their collaborations that sometimes they work in almost silent communication. Sergey is the perfection himself. Benjamin: “I really wanted to capture that kind of “statuesque” quality in Sergey for these shots, because that is how he really is in person and I just wanted to convey in photo form. Although he is Russian, he has almost a classical Greek or Roman quality…so obviously, I went for that in our shoot.”

According to Benjamin Veronis photography is a constant learning experience and a constant hunger to try new things. “I do think that I have a consistency from shoot to shoot, but at the same time I always want each shoot to be very different from the last, it makes me feel like each experience is completely new. Photography for me is truly an art form.” Throughout his life Benjamin has tried many different forms of artistic expression, from illustration to painting, decorating, cooking and graphic design. But photography is really the first medium which he feels gets him close to achieving the perfect result he envisions from the beginning. “I have a scientific side and an artistic side that somehow manage to coexist. I think I am sort of unique in that I have some skills that are very opposite. I am very good at math and science in general, but, I am also very good at visual arts.”

In his search for perfection and always exploring new experiences, he decided to take a very different approach in his third shoot with Sergey Korneff. Where in his first two shoots he used only natural light, this time he decided on a more controlled studio lighting, giving himself total control over the final result. Which is a remarkable result. –BM-

BENJAMIN VERONIS | BEAUTIFULMAG
SERGEY KORNEFF | BEAUTIFULMAG