This paradoxical approach is rooted in the Spanish-born illustrator’s youth, where he found inspiration just about everywhere he looked. “I guess it’s also a comment on the ‘masc for masc’ toxicity so prevalent in gay culture today and how performative it is”. On top of this, however, Guille’s work offers a more serious critique. One of his unearthly characters holds his phone in a mirror-selfie position, his thumb hooked in his jeans, parading a well sculpted v-line. This influence is particularly apparent in his piece Self Love.
“I’m really interested in the gym bro culture and the theatrics of it”, he details. This approach is rooted in two distinct cultures, Guille explains, both that of “gym bro culture” and “gay culture”.
Whilst his works to have a “hyper-sexual” element to them, he tells It’s Nice That that ultimately “I like to create characters that are expected to be touchy or scary, showing some vulnerability”. Bulging, glowing biceps, devil horns, cute cats and flowing tears: Guille Carmona’s illustrations are intentionally contradictory.
