German Vazquez
RENE
2021
120 Medium Format Film on Digital Print
20" x 16" framed

About the Work
My approach to Photography presents a critical viewpoint on the ideas related to religion and sexuality, particularly in colonized countries such as Puerto Rico. Inspired by paintings from Baroque and Rococo and gestures like Titian's The Venus of Urbino, Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus in art history as well as Hieronymus Bosch, The Garden of Earthly Delights.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, an island with very strong and deep rooted religious beliefs. Which created a fear to be your true authentic self , due to societal and religious oppression towards the LGBTQ+ Community and as I began to explore stories similar to my own experiences within the Queer community. Queer & Trans people are often targeted, As nature becomes that safe place where they can reconnect with themselves and release themselves from hatred and colonial oppression This current series is not just a reflection, but a documentation of the human beings who are tired of living in spaces where they do not feel welcomed, loved or protected !

One of the most important goals to me as a Queer artist of color is redirecting our views on this community from the trauma that surrounds them, and finding ways to highlight by celebrating the life of each individual with confidence, sexuality and gender identity. To overcome the stereotypical judgment and condemnation that was placed into our culture, and endangered the shared experience of primal safety and visibility.

Bio
German Ayala Vazquez is a Photographer , Creator and Visual Artist. Born in Bayamón Puerto Rico, currently living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is a 2020 Graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Where he was awarded The Adolf and Geraldine Paire full scholarship in 2018 to complete his studies in Fine Art photography. During this time, he was able to continue his interests in editorial and fashion photography while gaining expertise in the studio, documentary and Fine Art environment. Over the years German has won multiple awards for outstanding studio work from Profoto, and the 2020 TheNikon/Ben Rose Prize. He currently has work exhibited in Puerto Rico and Philadelphia has also been featured in multiple publications including Vogue Italia, Fluid Culture, Hunger Magazine amongst many others. His main focus is to not only to become a Storyteller in the Fashion Photography Industry, but to serve as an outlet to focus on conceptual and specific bodies of work to represent for the BIPOC LGBTQTT+, community.

Buyer assumes all S&H costs.

InLiquid, www.germanvazquez.com