Freakish visions of kidulthood

It happens to all of us: that rude awakening when we realize Santa is just a department store employee and the Tooth Fairy is really our parents. And when that fateful day arrives, a little wide-eyed innocence is lost and we inch our way closer to the realities of adulthood.

But what would it look like if we recaptured some of that magic — all while staying grownups? Paris-based retoucher extraordinaire, Cristian Girotto, has done just that.

In his collection titled ​“L’Enfant Exterieur” (The Outer Child), we glimpse the big-eyed wonder and unbridled emotions of children — morphed out of unsuspecting adults. According to Girotto’s website, the classical shape-substance dichotomy is the basis for this exploration. But no matter how technical the process, the finished product is whimsical, playful, and even a little bit eerie. And why shouldn’t it be? As any good fairy tale reveals, kids are masters of the fantastical.

Which of Cristian’s images reflects your inner child? Let us know in the comments.