Men That Fall – the photo suite

Men That Fall (2004, 2006, 2010, and 2016) is a visual and responsive work that spans over several years and media. It depicts a free-falling masculinity and the repelling forces of bodies, with all their integrity, frailty, presence, and stiffness. The project consists of videos, photos and sculptures of nine sets of men.  The photo series of Men That Fall has been 12 years in the making. The men are trapped in a head-down fall backwards and downwards. With maintained spinal stiffness and a defiant look in their eyes, as though they are saying no to modern demands for flexibility and adaptability. This work is inspired by the feminist author Susan Faludi and her thoughts on traditional masculinity in her book Stiffed (2000). The book’s title has a dual interpretation as it means both "suckered" and "rigid". The installation is part of the series A Family of Performing Pictures, which consists of the video works Men That Fall, Women That Turn and Kids on the Slide.