PLYWOOD OOH-RAH is a series of photo collages developed from found online images of US servicemen in field barracks. The makeshift environments are mostly constructed out of plywood and territorialize a soldier’s living space. These man caves not only represent living quarters, but are also a highly charged stage where these men act out a performative masculinity. Original photos range from casual groupings to posing with weapons action movie style, goofing around to body building poses, and some are sexual in nature.
The collages are hand assembled and photographed on a flatbed scanner. Each image type goes through multiple variations before the final version is selected. The collages are not digitally manipulated through editing software. Physical layering visible in each image is a record of process.