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Grady Harp wrote on 04/01/2010:

Macho Defined

Rubéndarío is a Venezuelan born artist now living in Europe where he has redefined fashion photography as well as opening the key to the secrets of just what makes the male model special. His eye is sensitive to the sculptural aspects of the body and with his extraordinary ability to manipulate light and shadow and combine that power with the right sort of models results in offering the viewer a way of looking at human flesh in a wholly unique way. His art is presented here in MUCHO MACHO with great dignity and style on a very large scale (the book measures over 13 1/2" X 10 1/2"), designed by Joris Buiks in the inimitable style of Bruno Gmünder Verlag. The result is a work of art that calls for attention from museums and all art collectors.

The first section is a collection of phenomenal models, in portions of clothing that allow their attributes to be the focus. The second section is devoted to not only a number of beautiful torsos with lighting that allows the viewer to understand and appreciate surface and suggestion, but also to a series of poses in which Rubéndarío places his models in open box fronts in contorted positions, much like the well known paintings by American artist Eric Gibbons. The third section celebrates the clown or harlequin and the artist has placed facial makeup on his models, allowing them to establish poses more private behind the 'masks' of the models but more suggestive to the viewer. The next section marries the use of natural flowers that attempt to vie for the beauty prize with the models, and while the contest is clearly in favor of the models, this section feels more contrived than sensual.

The artist closes this survey with some close-ups of body parts that make the viewer pause to figure out the source of the beautifully famed highlights. And then as though the artist saved the biggest fireworks for last, the book closes with light and prop manipulated images that are startlingly beautiful. Repeated viewings of this collection of artworks by Rubéndarío not only satisfies the pleasures of admiring perfection of anatomy, but also the rather amazing manner in which the artist pulls us into each of his images, revealing the male form as few other photographers have succeeded. His stamps of quality and vision are evident on every page. Highly recommended.

Grady Harp