In “Modern Addictions,” fine-art fashion photographer TOMAAS explores the over-consumption and dependency on prescription drugs. “Over the course of our lifetime, we are likely to be prescribed over 14,000 pills . . . [We] are on the verge of becoming a medicated society,” he explains, describing his inspiration for the series. In these photos, TOMAAS combines his cinematic and surrealist style with creative fashion portraiture, depicting copious amounts of pills as they adorn the models as bizarre couture, fill their mouths, or rain from the sky like a hyper-modern rendition of Rene Magritte’s “Golconda.” In a twist of satire, the images literalize the concept of “designer drugs,” inserting pills into high fashion imagery to demonstrate the increasing trend of artificially changing body chemistry to produce different helpful or desirable effects.
“Modern Addictions” isn’t TOMAAS’ only series that explores beauty in conjunction with synthetic products and cultures of excess; “Plastic Fantastic,” viewable here, examines the design beauty of everyday, disposable man-made products. More of TOMAAS’ work can be viewed on his Instagram.
Images © TOMAAS