Why Men? My work explores the male body as a site where complex conversations about

gender, sexuality, and mental health converge. Historically, women’s bodies have been

objectified, politicized, and narrowly defined by reproductive roles, while men are often valued for strength, power, and ego. I aim to challenge these simplified narratives by revealing the vulnerability and pressures that shape male identity.

 

Drawing inspiration from Robert Rauschenberg’s material experimentation and Andy

Warhol’s engagement with male desire and popular culture, I revisit my own early and current sexual experiences—the scenes, the bodies, and the intimate details—and extend these reflections to the stories others share. These memories evoke a recurring question whispered after encounters: “Was I good enough?” Such questions function like a game of truth or dare, fraught with the fear of damaging egos or introducing new insecurities. The intense pressure to perform, especially in sexual contexts, is rarely discussed openly, yet it significantly impacts mental health.

 

Through ceramic stoneware, slip castings, rhinestones, and florals, I interrogate how

masculinity is constructed by social expectations, gender roles, and childhood conditioning.

Rhinestones become a tool to highlight and exaggerate the male genitalia, examining facets of ego, queer identity, and the performative nature of masculinity. The inclusion of feet references fetishism and the ways desire is often redirected or substituted symbolically. While my work centers on men, it extends its dialogue to encompass women and queer communities, inviting viewers to reconsider notions of vulnerability, desire, and identity.

By exposing the fragility underlying masculine performance, my work opens up space for

honest conversations about mental health and encourages a broader understanding of gender beyond stereotypes.