Myth #9. From The Myths of Human Erectness series, 2025

Javier Rey   Emerging artists

This artwork presents a striking portrayal of the male form through a captivating black-and-white negative image. The unique inversion of light and shadow creates a dramatic, ethereal silhouette, highlighting the muscular contours and intricate textures of the body. The figure is positioned in a vulnerable, introspective pose, arms crossed over the chest, suggesting introspection and self-guarding. The smooth gradation of tones from dark to light accentuates the depth and dimensionality of the piece, drawing the viewer's eye to the subtleties of human anatomy. This innovative use of photographic techniques transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, inviting contemplation on themes of identity and perception. The absence of color amplifies the focus on form and texture, challenging traditional notions of portraiture and the human figure. Through its distinct execution, the artwork evokes a powerful sense of mystery and emotional depth.

The Myths of Human Erectness explores the human body as both subject and object, interrogating the myths surrounding masculinity, erectness, and human supremacy. The male figure emerges as something between flesh and artifact: inert yet monumental, sculptural yet estranged from its own humanity. It becomes an object of value —cold, metallic, imposing— echoing the aura of a silver statue, simultaneously precious and unsettling.

This transformation questions the inherited narrative of erectness —a symbol of dominance, progress, and ego rooted in the evolutionary leap from quadruped to biped— and the authority that humans have claimed over the world and other species. By reimagining the body as an object-tool, The Myths of Human Erectness subverts traditional visual codes of virility and power, inviting the viewer to reflect on the fragility of the human versus the object and the machine.

Javier Rey  photographs explores the physical structure and the possibilities of sculpture through photography.

Metallic archival pigment print. Other sizes: Small: 25 cm H x 20 cm W. Edition of 7 + 1AP, and Medium: 60 cm H x 48 cm W. Edition of 5 + 1AP