For your viewing pleasure: Sao Paolo-based photographer and art director Adriano Alarcon paused midst shave of his impressive four-month beard to pose for a peculiar series of self-portraits.
Per an interview with 500px ISO, Alarcon said the project was inspired by two popular web topics: selfies and beards.
Alarcon played the role of model, set designer, makeup artist, and photographer for the literally cheeky photo series. During his final month of beard growing, he began to collect small objects that he found to be suitable beard replacements, from toy soldiers to colored pencil shavings to faux ants. Interestingly enough, the Paulistano had no idea the project would go viral. Alarcon has titled the series “Fifty Fifty Selfie Barber Shop" and said he took the photos over a weekend in Sao Paulo during which he only stopped to eat, drink, and vote in Brazil's Presidential Elections- a venture which he said resulted in many a confused double-take.
When asked in an interview with Metro what the message behind the series was, he replied:
I guess the biggest message is that people shouldn’t worry so much about their own image; it’s about expressing ourselves, even if it looks silly. I think we’re living in a time in which everyone seems so self- concerned about the right way to look or behave, so I just wanted to poke a bit of fun at that fact and have a few laughs in the process.
Little life lessons and fun beards - a winning combo.
In the meantime and without further ado:
To see the photos in full resolution, check out the project's Tumblr. See more of Adriano on his website or artfully curated Instagram.
Images and interview content used with permission by Adriano Alarcon.
