Man. Toy.
A photographic expression of Still. Life.
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Images available in sizes up to 12x12 in luster and metallic prints
The dildo and what it is used for is thought of as taboo. It conjures thoughts of sex, masturbation or porn stars. In Man. Toy., the dildo is captured in non-sexual situations—it becomes art as well as a representation of man. Where you’d expect to find man, you can find a dildo. You never know where you’ll find one and how ‘normal’ such placement can be.
I stuck the dildo to different surfaces and snapped photos with my camera phone. The locations chosen are usually populated but I maintain the dildo as the only “character” in the images. The photos at night represent a “darker” character, or the seedy underbelly of NYC. In other images, “he” is just a fixture in the environment. The photographs included in this installment were shot in SoHo, Chinatown and Prospect Park, at the Waldorf Astoria and Trump Towers and on rooftops and the Manhattan Bridge.
I refer to this series as an expression of true still life. The dildo is inanimate however he does take on a life of his own. The design and placement lends life to the dildo. I used two designs of dildo—one realistic, resulting in a sense of eerie familiarity and the other is more “pretty”—but three dildos in total. The original dildo who inspired this project took a plunge into the East River on August 7, 2009.
The perspective of many of the photos draws the viewer in or makes the dildo larger than life. I made the dildo subject of our voyeuristic tendencies and in other images, he is watching us. Man. Toy.—it represents Man, yet it is also a toy, so play.
During the summer of 2009, I started a photo series showcasing the dildo. By September, I had over 50 images and a solo gallery exhibit in NY. It was yet another step on my creative journey. The Opening Reception was a success and I'd like to thank Time Out NY, NEXT magazine, Parle and Candy Rain magazine for their coverage. Special thanks also to Babeland for providing gift bags.
Read the Man. Toy. Press Release.
© 2009 Abigail Ekue - All Rights Reserved
Photography of the Human Kind
Artist Statement
