Photographer: Marc Martin

Model: Benjamin

The boxer stands for masculinity, the ballerina for virtuosity. At first glance, these two sports seem to be in stark contrast to each other.
The reason why I start a dialogue between them is that, behind the scenes, they could not be more similar. To stand on one’s toes requires no less courage than to step into the ring and risk a beating. To give your audience the illusion that you are soaring through the air while in fact you’re hiding the agony that each landing causes to your already bloody feet is more than just brave. Jumping rope is part of the training in both sports. Another thing in common! Pointe dancing and uppercut demand similar pirouettes and leave similar bruises. A few spectacular minutes in the spotlight require the same physical discipline, if not dedication to the norms of representation. In our queer community, too, many play a role. There are actives and passives, machos and queens…
Deconstructing the performance on stage means going backstage before you then try to assemble everything again. And that is exactly what Beau Menteur is about.
Marc Martin.

 « L’homme au gant » & « Tomber de rideau » series from Beau Menteur.  Stylism Fred Verdure & Jan Krass.
Beau Menteur is a book and an exhibition by Marc Martin showing now in Berlin.