Grace Gülick | Occhio

Occhio by Grace Gülick is a fresh perspective on the state of masculinity and the often hidden fragility associated with the black male body. Since the inception of the television, black men have been seen as arrogant, brutish and immature -  an object for the public to fear.

“Occhio”, short for Occhiolism refers to the awareness of the smallness of one’s perspective in the grand scope of the universe.  Although one’s life is an epic and unrepeatable anecdote, it’s still only an exemplification of the human experience, and may end up being the control for a much wilder experiment happening in the next room. The universe is limitless after all.

Teaming up with muses Ronnie Charlemagne and Shawn Phillip, Gülick utilises a blush backdrop illuminated by the Los Angeles sun. The muses genuflect, introducing us to a lost and timeless perspective. The durag - a vessel presenting how two contrary entities can be both complementary and interdependent brings about a simple and yet modern impression the black man has made over time.

Photographer: Grace Gülick

Muses: Ronnie Charlemagne | Instagram & Shawn Phillip | Instagram 

Grace Gülick is a Los Angeles, USA based photographer. Visit her Instagram for more.