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KITSCH DOOM Belt Man and Meryl Digital collage, p
hotographic self-portraits Photography by Magda Kaczmarka “This photo of Belt Man and Meryl is very special because it is their first photo together as a couple, so it carries a lot of meaning. It is a vital piece of their ongoing story. Belt Man and Meryl are a fictional couple that each individually symbolise many aspects of the human experience and largely represent the traditional roles that still linger today in society. It’s funny because this photo is actually a selfportrait, but I don’t consider these characters to be a representation of me at all. When I am performing as these characters, I embody their mannerisms and characteristics through improvisation and method acting techniques. Due to the nature of my artistic process, these characters feel very real to me. Meryl is the first hybrid character I have ever made and the first character of the fictional family I have created. She is a hybrid between a bride and a burglar. She represents how social expectations, like marriage, can hide, conceal, and even steal an identity. While being a wife and a mother is a function we all know well, there are certain constraining rules and expectations that are associated with that role. Although these characters represent a collective role and experience, each character has their own individual personalities and experiences as well. They each have a unique perspective and message that they want to share with the audience. It goes without saying that Meryl is a diva with a big heart! She loves her hubby Belt Man and her two kids. Nevertheless, she secretly dreams of the past and still hopes one day she can pursue her dream of being a big star. Belt Man is Meryl’s husband. He is the masculine version of Meryl and, of course, is a cross between a groom and belts. The Belt Mask was made in collaboration with my friend, talented artist and leather specialist Róisín Gartland. Belt Man’s identity is an ongoing mystery in the family’s story. What we do know, is that he is a silly, hopeless romantic who always takes the trash out on time. Belt Man as a character is a contradiction because the mask he wears represents toxic masculinity, while, at the same time, he is a shy and sweet natured person. The use of bondage is an important connection in my work because I believe the gender roles we are assigned can be worn in a similar way. Some perform these roles at ease, while others can feel constrained when following societal norms. This photo was created at my friend Magda’s house in Rathfarnam, at her home photography studio. She kindly let me stay in her spare room while I was finishing my MFA course in NCAD. Before the pandemic, Magda and I worked together at a small family and new-born photography studio in Dublin. Due to the pandemic, we both lost our jobs. For this reason, we really appreciated being able to work on this art project together, especially while chaos was ensuing around us. This fictional world was a great escape for both of us! The night this photo was taken we stayed up the entire night laughing and trying to take the perfect photos for Belt Man and Meryl’s first couple portrait. I really believe that the relationships I build with the people I work with is the most important part of my art. For me, it is more meaningful than adding any credential to my resume. I believe the energy felt during a photoshoot transfers onto the photos and, in turn, to the audience. Although the photo is quite dark, eerie and mysterious, I hope the viewer can also feel a humorous, comforting and caring energy from the photo as well. This photo, much like the characters, represents a contradiction between societal expectations and reality. To put it simply, don’t judge a book by its cover. Not everything is as it seems. These characters are just like you or me.” @kitschdoom ZSOLT BASTI White Face Red Nose Oil on wood panel “This painting was made from an old picture from when I was in secondary school. I was drawn to the positioning of the figure. This person, at the time, was a child, working something out with their hands. I painted the face but was unhappy with it, so I painted it white with sloppy paint and put on a cadmium red brushstroke for a nose. This was painted in my studio at La Cathedral Studios in Dublin 8. Since my degree show in IADT, all I wanted to do was to present my work to a wider audience and the RHA annual was the first place to give me that opportunity. Luckily now I am involved in other shows, but I must credit the RHA enormously for helping me as an emerging artist. I apply every year and I believe I will continue to do so for as long as I am still a practicing artist. Exhibiting in such a big show with so many great artists is such an honour.” @zsoltbasti18 The 191st Annual RHA exhibition opens on Monday September 27 and runs until October 30. rhagallery.ie/visit/annual-exhibition 51