New York-based photographer Travis Chantar (@chantar) has made a last name for himself shadowing RuPaul's Drag Race alumn Max for a year. His new project, a monograph entitled Tribe (out November 11), explores the idea of community and emotional exchange. "Tribe is inspired by our primal, visceral search for cultural connection," Chantar says in the foreword of the book. "As a mixed-race queer individual, I navigate cultures out of necessity. Where I don't fit, I strive to creatively connect through universal emotion. Art is the most important tool I have to relate to my environment and expand my community."
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The photographer also handpainted the tribal decorations on the models, each design meant as a reflection of his subject's aura. "Bodily decoration is powerful and shapes identity," the artist continues. "As dividing societal lines dissolve, golden opportunities arise for us to design a new, shared culture. Through art, we celebrate and humanize each other."
Click through to get a sneak peek, including some exclusive outtakes.
Tribe is available for purchase at ChantarPhotography.com
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