Where Darkness, Beauty, and Psychology Meet
Andrea Galad, an Italian-born photographer currently based in Berlin, is creating art that differs from that of many of his contemporaries who typically capture the male form. At 34 years old, Andrea draws inspiration from an unconventional upbringing shaped by his interest in art history, mythology, and the macabre.
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While Andrea initially pursued a career in contemporary dance, his passion for photography evolved as a way to express his inner turmoil and hidden desires. For Andrea, photography was never a professional goal but a personal need and emotional outlet to manifest the darkness within. His aesthetic — sensual, antique, and esoteric — reflects the emotional depth and intensity he brings to his work while balancing structure with raw emotion.
The Dark Side of Male Beauty
Andrea’s approach to portraiture reveals his fascination with male proportions and aesthetics. His photography often intertwines sensuality and control, incorporating the art of Shibari — Japanese rope bondage — into his imagery. This control element offers Andrea “a sense of peace” and provides a signature aspect of his art while emphasizing man’s divine and monstrous dualities.
When asked about his perspective on photography, Andrea speaks openly about his desire to delve into the psychological aspects of his subjects. In his view, his male models are muses who allow him to explore and create new emotional experiences. Each photograph reflects his inner world, inspired by past traumas, personal experiences, and passions — such as his love for the neoclassical.
Navigating Censorship and Creativity
Like many other photographers featured in Gayety’s Artist Spotlights, Andrea has faced challenges with censorship on social media, including the removal of his wildly popular Instagram account. Andrea remains defiant despite these setbacks and restrictions, advocating for a return to Europe’s long-standing tradition of normalizing nudity through art. He recalls how the classical world seamlessly integrated the human form into everyday life without shame.
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Andrea’s photography isn’t just about capturing the external beauty of the male body. It’s an introspective process inspired by his loss, trauma, and self-perceived darkness. Through his lens, he seeks to embrace these darker aspects of life, helping his audience confront and coexist with their inner demons.
In Conversation with Andrea Galad
Gayety: Can you tell us a little about this collection?
This series of photos is from the past three years and belongs to a different series. But in many pictures, you can see men tied in ropes, a new element in my photography. Thanks to a lover I had years ago, I discovered Shibari, a Japanese artistic form of rope bondage that involves tying a person in intricate and often decorative patterns. From time to time, I like to involve ropes in my aesthetics. Since I’ve never had any control in my past unlucky relationships, having a man tied and briefly under my control gives me a feeling of peace.
Gayety: What part of the male body do you find most beautiful to shoot?
I don’t prefer a particular body part, but proportions drive me crazy. I probably got this “kink” from my love for classic and neoclassic sculpture.
Gayety: We always ask artists what unique perspective or experience they feel you bring to this medium.
From my perspective, I see men as beautiful monsters. That’s what they have been to me — my desire to photograph the divine and the beast in them.
Gayety: What inspires you to shoot a new series of photos?
My inspiration is always wired to my need to know. I have the feeling that mine is not visual research but mostly psychological. I want to see how I feel if I create a certain image. So, basically, men are the tools to make me feel things, so yeah, men are my inspiration, lol.
Gayety: Do you have any idea what your next series might be?
I rarely plan my shootings or my series. I am quite spontaneous about that.
Gayety: Do you ever find it difficult to translate the deeper meaning behind your art into short-form social posts?
I don’t think it’s difficult for me to translate the deeper meaning of my art into short-form social posts. What I write in my posts is simple but sharp enough to ignite a thought or feeling, which is enough for me.
Gayety: What are your thoughts on the strict censorship guidelines on social media?
I honestly think they have to be reviewed. I once had a very active Instagram profile with a huge following, and Instagram deleted it out of the blue, even though my pictures were widely censored. That made me feel as if I did something criminal. Even though I knew it was just a silly social media policy, it made me doubt the worth of my work. But then my rationality took over, and I thought that for centuries, especially in Europe, people have always been exposed to nudity. Sculptures and paintings very often portray the naked body as it is, normalizing nudity and embedding it into daily life. Take Italy, for example; In every museum, street, and church, you are always in the presence of nudity, and it has always been part of daily reality without censorship or a sense of shame. This is also the reason why I would never stop doing what I do, with the hope that things will change.
Gayety: How do you find the balance between artistic nude photography and pornography? Does that distinction matter?
This is a really good question. I think the difference between nude photography and pornography depends on the viewer… and also on the context, intention, and education. Art always reflects what we are and what we know. For example, many old friends of mine back in Italy see my work as pornographic, but I don’t blame them. They don’t have any sexual education or sexual awareness, so for them, seeing two naked men hugging is basically gay porn. So, it depends on the context. I also worked for many years as a photographer for a porn production in Berlin, Hardwerk Studio, which promotes queer and feminist porn. I took pictures during the filming and was often pleasantly surprised to notice how romantic, real, and warm my pictures can be, even if I am basically shooting porn. So yes, beauty (or shame) is in the eye of the beholder.
Gayety: What have you learned about yourself through your artistic expression?
I always used photography to find something. But this something will remain classified for now 😉
Gayety: Do you remember the first nude photo you took?
Yes, I remember the first time I asked a friend of mine to pose naked for me, and it was extremely funny. I think I was 19 years old, and I always wanted to create pictures that looked like Renaissance paintings, but at that age, in my small, conservative town, it was quite impossible. The thing is that I’ve never really seen nudity as sexual, so for me, it was not embarrassing or weird to ask around if someone was available to pose for me. I was lucky enough to have a good friend who was so self-obsessed with his body that he immediately said yes. It was the first time either of us were doing something like this. But again, there was no embarrassment; we just found the situation quite normal and chill. I am still very grateful to him because, at that moment, everything started. We are still good friends and see each other every time I go to Italy.
Gayety: When you reflect on your work, is there a specific image or setting you are particularly moved by?
When I have to reflect on my work, I always take inspiration from the past and from what we have lost. Loss in every form is a huge inspiration, and I’m very connected with deadly and macabre topics. It is not my duty to create awareness about the things we have; it is also important for me to remember that we can be okay with the things we lost, the things we don’t have anymore, or the things we don’t understand. I hope that through my work, people can feel more comfortable with all those things that we are afraid of, such as shame, trauma, loss, and darkness. I have learned at a very early age that we must embrace our darkness as a fundamental part of our being. Healing is important but not mandatory; being flawed is part of being human. There is no need to fight the demons inside us, but just observe them, listen to them, and find creative ways to coexist.
Want to see the full uncensored gallery?
We’ve published all 17 images — including those too spicy for this site — over on our Substack.
