When
Michelangelo took chisel to marble
and created his eternal masterpiece
of the glorious David, he captured
the light, life and brooding beauty
of the unadorned masculine form.
It is those very qualities which appeal
to Marcus and which he endeavours
to enshrine on film when he applies
lens to model. Like the David, his
images caress not only the eyes but
the senses and indeed the soul.
Marcus mourned the neglect of the
Asian male nude in photographic history,
much like the neglect of Asia itself
in the consciousness of the western
world. He determined to redress that
imbalance within the moralistic and
anachronistic confines of Singaporean
legality.
The results are symphonies of simplicity.
Rarely confronting the viewer with
the bare brutality of unadorned genitalia,
Marcus instead hints at the unseen,
quickening the imagination along with
the appetite, at the same time heightening
the artfulness of his work.
Marcus loves the interplay between
the definite but gentle human form
and the often harsh environment in
which he must survive – rocks,
concrete, timber, water. At times
the contrast is palpable while at
others the blending of the two is
chameleon. Whichever, the men in his
work complement and beautify their
surroundings, with the surroundings
lending him their glory.
In that sense, Marcus’ work
is a powerful metaphor for the place
of the Asian male in society. Often
he glides unnoticed, merging into
his surroundings and passing barely
noticed, at other times standing in
stark contrast to all around. In either
case, he is an adornment, beautifying
life and gracing the world.
Marcus has a passion for the universality
of man, anxious to transcend the traditional
barriers which isolate people, and
to overcome man’s inhumanity
to man. That passion impels him to
photograph not only Asian men, but
Caucasian as well, revealing the subcutaneous
similarity between us all.
He tries to see beneath the skin to
unlock the glow of life that enlivens
every being, regardless of sexuality,
colour, nationality or beliefs. In
this way Marcus hopes to do his small
part in breaking down discrimination
in all its forms, picture by picture.
Biography
Singapore-based photographer Marcus
Mok began his photographic career
10 years ago in the field of bridal
photography after leaving his real
estate job of 5 years which he says
“is not his calling”.
He decided to enter the exciting
world of photography as he felt
he really had a passion for the
craft, and that passion was the
only way he could learn to excel
in his trade.
A self-taught photographer, Marcus’
first encounter with male nude images
was in 1996 when he picked up a
copy of BLUE on his trip to Sydney.
However, he only dabbled in male
nude photography in 2002 on a trip
to Hawaii. He has never looked back
since. Marcus’ works were
featured 4 times in one year by
BLUE in 2005/2006 and that really
spurred him to on to greater things,
one of which was to stage his first
solo all-Asian male nudes exhibition,
“Men of Silk”, in Sydney
during the 2006 Mardi Gras.
Photographing the Asian male was
a natural progression for him because
of his background. He also realised,
from his travels, that publications
featuring asian male nudes are a
rarity and ones with an artistic
edge are even rarer…hence
he was determined to carve a niche
in that genre of photography.
Creative use of props and lighting
remain very much a characteristic
of his shoots. Full frontal nudity
is not a common thread in his collection.
He feels that not showing genitalia
heightens the sensual aspect of
male nude images…that it tantalises
without being too explicit. Partly,
it’s a result of working in
a still conservative, yet slowly
liberating Singapore. Mok himself
has had his website shut down by
Singaporean authorities unimpressed
with his images depicting full-frontal
nudity. For the same reason, he
avoids displaying these types of
photos at exhibitions in his home
country. And it’s not uncommon
for some of his models to request
a degree of anonymity.
Marcus is currently working on his
first coffee table book of male
figure photography, showcasing a
collection of the best images created
in the last 6 years, which he hopes
to launch in 2009.
Besides being a male figure photographer,
Marcus is also very entrenched in
the world of stock photography where
he makes his bread and butter. His
images are sold worldwide through
renowned stock image distributors
such as Getty-Images.
Curriculum Vitae of Marcus
Mok (mainly for male nude
photography)
March 1997
Started photography career doing
mostly studio and outdoor bridal
portraiture
Jan 2002
Began career in stock photography
through Asia-Images Group
May 2003
Did a series of 3 conceptual posters
Commissioned by the Singapore Vegetarian
Society for the “Go Vegetarian”
Exhibition in Singapore alongside
international posters at the Esplanade
Tunnel organised by The Esplanade
Co. Ltd.
Dec 2003
Male nudes featured in “Manazine”
a Singapore based men’s lifestyle
magazine
October 2004
Participated in group photography
exhibition “[ RA ] unpublished”
in Singapore, organised by Manazine.
Sold 2 of 4 prints.
May 2005
8 page Gallery and write up titled
“Too Shy” of Asian male
nudes published in Sydney magazine,
BLUE issue #56
Dec 2005
4 page spread in BLUE MUSE, a special
publication of BLUE
Feb 2006
First solo exhibition “Men
of Silk” , a 2-week solo photographic
exhibition at the Tap Gallery, Sydney,
featuring all-Asian male nudes.
Sold 14 of 36 prints exhibited
Cover and 2 page spread ( including
interview ) in FG, the Sydney Gay
and Lesbian Mardi Gras Guide 2006
May 2006
BLUEPRINT in BLUE issue #62 featuring
exhibit “Adam 2005”
Cover and centrespread + interview
in SXNational ( Melbourne ) issue
#38
June 2006
One of 9 featured photographers
with a 22 page spread in Boy Next
Door, a special publication of BLUE
“Men of Silk” a 5-day
solo photographic exhibition at
Bianco, MOX bar and café,
Singapore ( sold 10 of 27 prints
)
February 2008
One of 8 Asian photographers featured
in an all Asian male exhibition
at Off The Kerb Gallery in Melbourne
as part of the Midsumma Festival.
Titled “Men Like Me”,
it is organised and curated by Australian
Photographer/Artist, Garrie Maguire.
Sold 3 out of 6 prints exhibited