"Skin. And Under. Evolving Young Machos. Or Not."
By Igor Mattio
About the Book
Release Date: Spring 2025
“Skin. And Under. Evolving Young Machos. Or Not.” by Igor Mattio is a captivating photographic exploration. Featuring 156 black and white images taken across Colombia, Italy, and France, this collection delves into the essence of young adult males. Through Mattio’s lens, their vulnerability, strength, and profound emotions are unveiled, capturing the transformative journey of their becoming.
Special Pre-Order Offer $ 74
Pre-order now and receive:
- A signed copy of the book (Mailed after publication, late Spring 2025)
- An exclusive limited-edition print (Mailed 4-weeks after purchase)
Payment Methods: $74 + $10 shipping. All major cards accepted.
Excerpt from the Book
“In “SKIN. And Under,” Mattio’s lens descends, like Orpheus into the underworld, beneath the inked armor, the studded leather, the carefully constructed facades of masculinity. What he finds there, in the subterranean chambers of the heart, is not hardness, not the steel of the warrior, but the trembling flesh of youth, exposed and luminous.
Each portrait is a palimpsest, a parchment where the stories of struggle and vulnerability are etched over the smooth skin of adolescence. The nudity is not a provocation, but a revelation, an offering of truth laid bare on the altar of the lens. These young men are not merely subjects; they are oracles, their bodies inscribed with the poetry of their own becoming.
Mattio’s work is a challenge, a mirror held up to our own rigid notions of gender. It asks us to look beyond the muscles and the bravado, to see the tender, beating heart beneath. To recognize that true strength lies not in the refusal to feel, but in the courage to be vulnerable, to be open, to be utterly and completely human.
In the end, “SKIN. And Under” is more than just a collection of photographs; it is an invitation, a beckoning into the shadowed depths of the human spirit. It is a reminder that even in the most hardened of shells, there exists the potential for softness, for beauty, for a love that transcends the boundaries of flesh and bone.
About the Author
Igor Mattio is a renowned visual artist who blends photography and drawing to create bold and surreal works. His focus on silver gelatin prints in numbered editions has earned him acclaim in the art world. “Skin. And Under” is his latest project, reflecting his deep desire to capture the authentic and vulnerable states of being.
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By pre-ordering “Skin. And Under. Evolving Young Machos. Or Not.”, you are supporting the arts and helping to bring this unique and powerful collection to life.