Photographers - Part 38

Matthew Morrocco

Matthew Morrocco is a young New York photographer.  For ten years, starting when he was in college in 2010, he took photographs of older men, and himself with older men, in an extended project that eventually was called Complicit.  All of today's photos are from the Complicit series.  The photo above, Kissing Rolf, became a meme.

Matthew writes: "It may have been photography that I meant to inspect but what I found was an essence of human connectivity that extends beyond just sex and lust. I met men in their homes. We had tea, shed tears, shared orgasms and intimate details."

(Above: Self-Portrait with Charlie)

"I was told about dead lovers, stories about AIDS, about their mothers, about new jobs and grandchildren, about our interest in each other."

(Above: Self-Portrait with David on the Bed)

"Through all of these stories of triumph and failure, I’ve learned about the experience of art."

(Above: Rod on the Yellow Couch)

"I’ve found that each person--artist, subject, and viewer--must understand that all individuals are solely responsible for their thoughts and actions."

(Above: Self-Portrait with Elmar)

"The artist does not decide the content of the work alone. When taking part in the process of art, complicity is a passive action, to encounter is to be complicit. To view is to take part."

(Above: Self-Portrait with Papi)

This is Self-Portrait with Ken.  For some reason, it reminds me of American Gothic with a twist – perhaps a twist to the nipple.

This is Self-Portrait on a Tricycle with Shaun.  Is it a comment on how Matthew thinks the older guy views him?

We end with The Village People.  I think the title alludes to more than just the wall art.  The gap between generations is symbolized by the two guys interacting through a window – one inside, one outside.  To the younger guy, the Village People are ancient history; to the older guy, they're part of his memories.  And yet, there's still a human connection between old and young.

You can see more of Matthew Morrocco's work at www.matthewmorrocco.com.