Thomas Bourry | Return of the Sphinx

ALTHOUGH WE STILL DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE SPINX REPRESENTS, WE HAVE THROUGH THE AGES GATHERED QUITE SOME INFORMATION THAT SKETCHES A PRETTY GOOD PICTURE. IN GREECE THE SPHINX WAS ASSOCIATES WITH MYSTERY. A RIDDLE-ASKER. IN EGYPT, THE SPHINX WAS GIVEN A MORE PHYSICAL STRENGHT, BEING THE GUARDIAN OF TEMPLES AND KINGS TOMBS. BUT WHEREVER WE FIND THE SPHINX, THE ONE THING THEY HAVE ALL IN COMMON IS THEIR SILENT PATIENCE.

Like a true Sphinx, photographer Thomas Bourry has waited a long time before he alerted the world of his presence once again. Twelve months to be precise. Is there something mythical about that. Not really. No, in Thomas’ case, the mystery is easy to explain. He has been working hard, shooting series after series, in order to create a whole new portfolio after his successful exhibition that took place during the summer of 2010.

Thomas Bourry, alias Sphinx, is 36 years old and lives and works in Cologne, Germany. It is here where he finds his mostly amateur models and it is here where he transforms them into shining jewels. Each single one of them. How he does it is a mystery, in character with his Sphinx personality. But what we do know is that his portraits are carefully built constructions, little pieces of art that are created from rough material and polished and chiseled into beautiful representations of his imagination. Much like the Sphinx itself. "Every image is a construction," he explains. "The frame always creates a specific reality. I work in black-and-white because the missing of color shows this important difference between reality and a photograph."

There is a misunderstanding about events such as Gay Prides and the Gay Games. In contrary to what many think, Gay Prides are not all about parties and the Gay Games is not only a sports event. What many people don’t realize is that both are the centerpieces of many gay related activities that take place during these events. It are opportunities to drive attention to all kinds of animations and movements that are gay related or simply done my gay men and women. Such as exhibitions of gay artists. Last year, during the Gay Games 2010 in Cologne, Thomas Bourry was one of these artists who was honored with an exhibition. His first, but most certainly not his last. For 6 days Thomas’ work graced the walls of the Marsil Showroom in Cologne and the show drew so much attention that Thomas  Bourry came out of it, energized and motivated so start working on a whole new portfolio.

Now, 12 months later, Thomas Bourry is ready to lift the veil once again. Ready to show the fruits of his hard work and showcase some of his latest discoveries and creations. All in that typical Thomas Bourry style. Images that are eye catching, showing the mystery of attraction like a mirror of our own desire and lust. Thomas Bourry’s imagery is often wrapped in an atmosphere of intimacy and privacy, which gives you the feeling you are secretly a man in his most personal moment. This is probably what makes his photography so mysterious. As enigmatic as the Sphinx. –BM-

Thomas Bourry can be contacted through his casting profile.

THOMAS BOURRY | BEAUTIFULMAG

Comments

[BEAU BRUMMELL]

great photographer and I like that his models arent prepubescent guys but middle aged men and very hot!

[Andre DeLoach]

this photo spread is visually refreshing to me because it explores masculinity in a way that is different from the approaches I and some other photographers often take. nice.