‘Alone Time’ is a beautiful photo series by Canadian artist JJ Levine that features one model taking on both male and female genders in the same frame.
It explores the human capacity to switch genders and role reversete in society, and in doing so challenges the authenticity of gender as a concept.
There was no digital manipulation involved, and the models were transformed into both male and female roles with the help of clothes, makeup and gestures.
His photos show a series of couples in various settings; in bed, in the shower, reclining on the couch, having a terse face-off. The subtle body language they employ gives the photos a depth and nuance that prevents them from straying into drag queen territory.
The project is deeply personal to Levine as he is transsexual. “I’m trans, so I think about this stuff all the time in my day-to-day life. I express myself through image making; this focus is just one way that I can convey my ideas about myself and the world and the sometimes-messy intersection of the two”.
Levine only uses people he knows as it allows for a higher comfort level and ease during shoots, which translates into a stronger connection with viewers.
View the rest of the series below.
[via BuzzFeed, images via JJ Levine Photography]