Photographer Tadao Cern’s latest project is entitled ‘Blow Job.’ Inviting volunteers in their hundreds to his studio during Design Week in Vilnius, Lithuania, Tadao blasted air into their faces and snapped away.

The results are hilarious if not a bit disturbing. With exposed gums, wrinkled skin and wide-eyes, it’s challenging for anyone to look normal, let alone attractive.

This project has received enormous interest and continues fulfilling the initial goal of making viewers laugh. ArtRebels decided to ask the artist how the project affected his work and where he is heading next.

What was unexpected in this project?

The results and the reaction it received. I did it all for fun and to keep visitors busy while hanging out at my photo studio. After a few days I began processing photos and I was very pleased with the results. It turned out to be a bit of a global success.

How did participants respond to the experience of standing in front of the camera and having their faces blown by a super powerful air blaster?

Some were very afraid, others fidgety. It was really fun to observe them recording the event with their mobile phones, inviting friends to come over. Hearing continuous laughter in the studio was great.

After the photo session, all the portraits were placed online. No one asked for them to be removed. Many shots became part of people’s profile pictures and have been shared with friends.

How did you come up with the concept of blowing people’s faces with an air blaster?

I wanted to present my studio to visitors during Design Week and I realized that the best way to do it is by involving them in the action. What can be better to bribe the audience than making them laugh at themselves? The idea seemed so elementary that I was sure someone had already done it before me. I originally held it as a one-off fun event, not a personal or ambitious project.

Any further plans for this exhibition? Are you exhibiting it elsewhere?

It will appear in several exhibitions in Lithuania and the first of them should be ‘Kaunas Photo’. Since this photo session was covered by some of the world’s largest publications, we are now in the process of adapting the Blow Job project into advertising. Maybe over time, the exhibit will travel to other shows or competitions. Things are going very fast. I feel as if the project has a life of its own!

What inspires you?

If you surround yourself with interesting people, and you are open to the idea of trying something new, it always inspires fresh ideas.

Watch Blowjob in action!