Photographer Kenneth Bamberg is interested in exploring the idea of masculinity within his work.
In this series titled “Flowers”, Bamberg photographs the Shan tribe boys in northern Thailand undergoing a rite of passage to manhood.
This ritual, called the “Poi Sang Long”, consists of dressing up these boys in bright colors and making them wear make-up.
The purpose of this ritual is for these boys to undergo what Prince Siddhartha went through before he became Buddha.
Although this ritual signifies that these boys are becoming men, the feminine aesthetic is incorporated within this ritual and in turn, their identities.
Through this series, Bamberg shows that having feminine qualities does not make a man less “manly”— it is how he cultivates himself that makes him a man.
Scroll down to view the rest of these thought-provoking photos.
[via Ken Bamberg]