Tension
Why are we bound to things we cannot explain? How are we tied to those around us in inexplicable ways—and to forces beyond our control that speak to our deepest desires?
Tension was shot by Alexander Bergman on 35mm film and developed using traditional darkroom color processes.This series explores the traditional Japanese art of Shibari in a stylized form, where hyper-masculinity is contrasted with femininity. The presence of florals references gay culture, with each flower symbolizing elements of queer literature, coded language, or historical figures—such as Oscar Wilde and his enduring influence, or works like Bara Kei (Killed by Roses) by Yukio Mishima.This blend of cultures, identities, and emotions offers a retrospective lens through which I examine my own masculinity as a gay man.