French artist Olivier Ciappa combats homophobia with a new photo project, Imaginary Couples, that takes on the very real backlash against marriage equality in his country.
For this series of portraits, now on display at the city hall of the 10th arrondissement of Paris, Ciappa photographed several heterosexual celebrities and public figures posing as "imaginary" same-sex couples and families. The list of those involved in the campaign include actress Eva Longoria, singer Lara Fabian, actor Nicolas Duvauchelle, and French Olympic swimmers Florent Manaudou and Frederick Bousquet. While shooting Imaginary Couples, which was created as a counterpoint to the protests against marriage equality and adoption by same-sex couples in France, Olivier told his subjects, "You're with the person you love. Not a man, not a woman. Then, at the session, I disappear, for they are one with each other." For an extensive look at Ciappa's photo project, visit his official Facebook page.
See some of the photos on the following pages.
