Alicia approached me last year at the Berlin Festival and asked me if I would be willing to model for a photo series about bearded guys she was working on. I was quite curious about the project so we exchanged contacts and she sent me some of the photos that she had already done. I really enjoyed them and was happy to be her next special beard portrait. As if she would have guessed that I had a sweet tooth I became her first edible beard. While the other guys before me got decorated with flowers or confetti or minituare figures, my beard was frosted with cream and sprinkles. As fun as it looked, it was a sweet mess and a nightmare to clean. But I think it was worth the trouble as the photos came out quite fun. Enjoy more creamed beard shots of me along with my beard monologue after the jump.
The first association that I made with beards when I was a child was my dad who always wore a beard. It was such an essential part of his face that it was a complete shock to me to see him without it for the first time. I was still quite young when he had to do a clean shave for the military service. When I saw him in the hallway back then I almost didn’t recognize him, he looked like a stranger to me. When I realized that this person was supposed to be my dad it felt so bizarre that I actually started crying. I always imagine if I would shave now, some of my friends would do just the same as I did as a kid.
I think the beard complements my face, almost like a hair-do that goes all around. I wouldn’t want to miss it. I have quite the pointy chin, but you couldn’t tell as it’s hidden inside the blonde fluff. You would be surprised what else you can hide in there. But I prefer to keep it free of any contents, the cream for this photoshoot being an exception.
I often get a little envious towards my bearded friends because theirs is longer, fuller or thicker or has an interesting color. I love when the beard color doesn’t match the hair ontop of their head, though that’s quite rare actually but so cool. I remember I was so impressed by the silver, golden and bronze-colored beards of the models of Bernhard Willhelm, my favorite designer, at his show that he had here in Berlin a few years ago. I so want a golden beard!
The longer my beard (and my hair) the more comments I get from people. They are quite fascinated with it and I am happy to please them. Though I have to admit the reason I grow it so long sometimes is not vanity, it’s laziness. And to trim a beard to a nice shape is actually not that easy.
I’ve always had some capacity of a beard, but since I wear it as full as this I do get more admirations and advances. It feels like it has become some kind of fetish for people, both for girls and for gay guys. I don’t know a single person who prefers guys without beards these days. And I can relate as I prefer bearded guys as well. It’s quite the nice sensation – beard agains beard. Or better yet, beard against some other part of the body.
Photos: Alicia Kassebohm
***
Alicia Kassebohm is a freelance photographer and communication design student at the Institude of Design Berlin. Last year she won the 3rd place of the Deutscher Jugendfotopreis. For iHeartBerlin she talks with interesting men about their goregous beards. If you are interested in getting your special beard portrait taken by Alicia feel free to get in touch with her at a.kassebohm@me.com.
More info: www.aliciaka.com
.
