ISSN 2329-7700 (Print) ISSN 2329-7697 (Online)
Vaso is a cut above the rest. In 20 years she’s been through the wash and come out full of life. Humble and humorous, she attributes her growth to a single, surprising, trait: teaching. She prides herself in seeking out raw talent and shaping them into the beauty mavens of tomorrow. So come by and meet style-personified. You smart ones will listen to us. You wise ones will keep coming back.
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Self-Reflection The modern world has redefined the masculine and the feminine. Gender, race, and even sexual preference are now secondary to expression. Men and women are no longer limited to archaic and arbitrary restrictions imposed onto personal taste. Sharing is sensible, sensibility is strength. In mirroring one another, we become one. Blonde - Zoe Lurex Paisley Dress. Designer: Torn by Ronny Kobo. Courtesy of MVM Miami. $215. - black Harness Bag. Designer: RK New York. Courtesy of MVM Miami. $690 - Open scroll tight. Courtesy of Urban outfitters. $16 - Pinky boots. Courtesy of Diesel. $275 Beard - Blue dotted blazer. Designer: Anthony Morato. Courtesy of The Citadins. $249 - Night Blue Pants. Designer: Anthony Morato. Courtesy of The Citadins. $125 - Olive Swirl shirt. Designer: Zanerobe. Courtesy of The Citadins. $95 - Graffiti bow. Designer: Jimmy Dugazon. Courtesy of Dugazon. $90 - Pony hair leopard wingtip shoes. Designer: Del Toro. Courtesy of Del Toro. $250
Credits: Looking Bent by Natalia Mejia Photography: Juan Montbrun Models: Jah Cuba & Mischa Perich
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Credits: Photography: Amanda Julca Words: Luis G Cisneros Styling: Amanda Julca Hair: Natalia Mejia Models: Sabil Edgar, Grant Steven, Kelsey N, Hailey Sterne (courtesy of Wilhelmina Models Miami) Location: earth-n-us farm
Take a quick glance down below. Gaze upon your monument of masculinity. Are you proud of your power? Do you pulse at the thought of thrusting it onto another? Maybe her? Don’t be shy. She’s not. She doesn’t care. She sees you looking and grins. But the wrong person on the right night can easily turn a smile into a sneer. She’s got no use for your misplaced machismo. This vibrant vixen turns vicious at the first sign of chest-puffing or feather-fluttering. She sees through your biceps buffoonery, knows deep pockets hide shallow character. This woman with edge knows clumsy hands just get cut. Flaunt all you want, sir: she’ll send you home to an acquiescent Internet with your peacock in hand. This kitty prefers her own kind. Credits: Photography: Juan Montbrun Words: Arturo Ferreira Styling & Modeling: Sabil Edgar
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Credits: Words: Arturo Ferreira
Daylight recedes; the last of the lingering light leans against the window above. The fading glow is broken by black bars, an irregular barcode constantly reminding you of the price you paid for this existence. A fistful of dollars earned you a lifetime of servitude after the whispers of others shouted down your instinct to the contrary. Just an eager moment ago, you were sure of the wonders life held. Now you simply wonder how you’ll survive the meager moments that hold you.
Of the courage to make your next step sideways rather than forward.
You knew better. You had a feeling. If only you would have…
Our world tells us to throw away our lives in exchange for trinkets made by slaves with broken hands for slaves with shattered dreams. Our world speaks for us to keep us mute. It perpetuates entertaining addiction to keep us docile. It encloses us in high-rises and credit cards to keep us safe.
But you didn’t. Your decisions led to a life in prison. Your heart longs for parole. Your brain knows it’s a death sentence. You doze off under the weight of the same thought you have every night, “I chose this path.” ----------------------------------------
You dream of the life you know you can have, despite the world’s efforts to convince you of naïveté. These dreams are not your own. These are the dreams of thousands of dreamers across seas of culture and oceans of time. If you were willing to believe the instinct that screams within you, “No! This is wrong!” you could be free.
Because the world fears what you would become if you were to realize that
You mostly wake as daylight barely breaks: Another too-short night bleeding into another toolong day. But today you feel different. Today you feel. Your gaze surveys the luxurious cell you call home, falling upon each piece of flotsam keeping your shipwrecked life afloat: couches and cars, purses and plasmas. With new eyes, you finally see the irony of collecting mass-produced prefabricated objects to set yourself apart. With new heart, you finally have the strength to face the only questions to ever matter. With new soul, you finally set forth. What if you stopped chasing the life you were told to live? What if you did everything you always wanted to do? What if you freed your mind? What if your life followed?
You dream boldly. You are loud. Of a life without chains or limits. You are wild. Of an upbringing free of others drilling you with “shoulds”. Of owing debts to educators rather than banks.
You are dangerous. You are the catalyst of freedom. ----------------------------------------
Of maturity gained without the sacrifice of youth.
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PAGE 22 > Camy- Next-generation street art and more on bentmag.com
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BENT: What inspired you to pursue creating cityscapes? Andrew Soria: I would have to credit my aunt from NY who gave me the direction for my first cityscape. On her visit to FL one year, she asked me if I could make her an image with a girl walking through the city in the rain, with a blue rose in one of the windows. At the time, I just started working my first job as a graphic designer, and was deeply inspired by other digital art I’ve seen. I remember thinking, “I can do that!”, and used the idea to create something really unique and professional. After that, I’ve had a few mentors in my life tell me I was an artist, and to pursue the career. Since then, I started developing concepts and ideas that would develop into the art I create today. BENT: What’s your process in creating a piece? AS: Once I develop the concept, I plan intelligently how to execute the piece, and begin scoping out different areas in the city. I look for interesting architectural landscapes, roadways, and the perfect sunrises & sunsets. I have to keep in mind the time of day to visit these places to get the perfect lighting. From there, I take my camera to the streets and begin to photograph the places I’ve been researching. I find the best way to get around is by bike - which presents a whole new landscape of the city. Once I feel I’ve captured enough images, I begin my process in Photoshop. I meticulously cut-out and combine the images into one cohesive
piece. For me, the angles and shapes fit together like pieces of a puzzle. When I’m satisfied with the layout, I start retouching, fix every edge, and develop the overall look and mood. BENT: Which has been your favorite cityscape to create so far, and why? AS: My favorite would have to be “Pursuit of Happiness”. I originally developed the concept from the “Kid Cudi” song. There’s a lot of feeling and emotion that goes into this cityscape. In a way, this piece represents the struggle of life. We are constantly battling with the choice to lead a righteous path, while being persuaded by temptations of our society. In the end, life is about contrast, taking the good with the bad, and learning from our previous experiences. The path you choose will never always shine gold. We can only hope our choices lead to the idea of a better life. We must learn to appreciate our achievements as well as our shortcomings. BENT: Many people initially mistake your work for paintings before becoming aware it is digital art. What’s your take on digital art vs painting? What do you think of the perception on digital art when compared to other art mediums? AS: The fact that people can view my work and be fooled to think it’s a painting is flattering. I’ve actually had a potential buyer contact me to inquire about my work, and then turn it down once he discovered it wasn’t an “original painting”. The perception of digital art is lacking, as photog-
raphy once did when it stepped into the world of fine art. Technically, there is no “original” when it comes to photography or digital art. In today’s digital age, a computer serves as a form of expression. You can never achieve the exact look and feel as using a paint brush or film camera, but we can come very close. I’ve found digital art allows me to achieve results that may have never been possible through traditional means. I combine numerous techniques and mimic various mediums. This ability to manipulate imagery and transform it in such a way can leave the viewer in awe. I believe digital art is an important medium for the community to identify. It’s a very new concept, but no less skillful or relevant as any other mediums. BENT: Any upcoming projects on the horizon? AS: Yes! I’m currently working on launching a project this coming month with hatchfund.org. They’re a nonprofit crowd-funding website that supports art projects. I aspire to travel to different cities and create cityscapes influenced by its culture. I will meet with the top 5 donors of my project, and have them accompany me to photograph their favorite place in the city! From this, I will create a new cityscape. This will provide a unique insider’s view of the city. I plan to follow up my journey with a short documentary style film. I want to share these experiences, and show the effort that goes into creating one of these cityscapes.
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