Japan fans pose for a picture inside the stadium before the England v Japan match at the Rugby World Cup 2023 in Nice, France on September 17, 2023. (Photo by Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters)
Roosters attack each other during a cockfight as part of Jonbeel festival near Jagiroad, in Morigaon district, India, Friday, January 17, 2025. (Photo by Anupam Nath/AP Photo)
A woman cries outside her house after armed gangs set it on fire in the Post Marchand neighborhood of Port-au-Prince on December 17, 2024. (Photo by Clarens Siffroy/AFP Photo)
Due to the current economic, social and cultural crisis in The United States of America today, I have decided to do a photographic project consisting of a series of studio portraits of superhero and celebrity impersonators that live and work in the city of Los Angeles. Most of them unemployed Americans, they decided to suit up with their costumes and hit the streets, animate parties and events in efforts to make ends meet. Making them pose in their costumes against a colorful backdrop, I ask them to manifest feelings of genuine sadness – honest emotions that are a consequence of our current times. The result is a somber, striking visual image that contradicts the iconic nature of strength and moral righteousness typical in American superhero and celebrity imagery. Creating the illusion that Superman does exist – that he too was fallible and affected by America’s downturn.
Shaolin monks of the Dengfeng Zhongyue Shaolin Boxing Culture Troupe from Henan Province in China perform in Valletta, Malta, September 17, 2016. (Photo by Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters)
A model is groomed backstage of the Fashion East catwalk show during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017 in London, Britain September 17, 2016. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)