In 2025, Artfineline will present SKIN, And Under. Evolving Young Machos. Or Not, a daring collection of 156 images by visual artist Igor Mattio.
This meticulously curated photo book showcases Mattio’s masterful ability to capture the raw and vulnerable states of his subjects, revealing their deep desires to be understood, appreciated, and loved.
SKIN. And Under is a bold exploration into the complex lives and minds of young adults, offering a sharp critique of traditional masculinity.
The presence of nudity in the images is not sexual but rather sensual, tasteful, and natural, amplifying the evocative power of the work.
This collection delivers a gripping and transformative experience, inviting viewers to rethink preconceived notions and embrace a deeper understanding of identity and vulnerability.
Title: SKIN, And Under. Evolving Young Machos. Or Not.
Author: Igor Mattio
Edited by: Artineline
Publication Year: 2025
What we find in SKIN. And Under is not merely a series of photographs but a penetrating study of humanity itself. Mattio’s lens does more than capture; it exposes. It strips away the hardened exterior, the ink and metal armor, to reveal the tender, beating hearts beneath. This collection confronts us with the sweet, almost heartbreaking delicacy of youth caught in the throes of becoming.
Each image is a testament to the struggle and beauty of vulnerability. The nudity presented is a reclamation of the body, not as an object of desire but as a vessel of truth and emotion. In these pages, the young men are not just seen; they are felt. Their stories, their fears, their hopes—all laid bare with a respectful, almost reverent touch.
SKIN. And Under challenges the very fabric of what we are taught to believe about masculinity. It forces us to reconsider, to redefine, to acknowledge that strength is not in the hardness of the shell but in the willingness to be soft, to be real. This work is not just a viewing experience; it is a call to empathy, a demand for a deeper, more compassionate understanding of the human condition.
Printed to the highest standards, the book features finely crafted reproductions using a sophisticated 4/4 tone process (2 blacks + 2 Pantones) with full-background protective varnish on 170-gram matte coated paper. Each image commands attention with its depth and clarity, inviting the viewer into an intimate world where the subjects’ innermost emotions and identities are laid bare.
