Project_ISM - erotic art & public nudity

LIONESS

ARTISTS STATEMENT

I wrote a blog in 2007 about nudity, and I don't think there has ever been a more appropriate time to share it than right now. Hope you enjoy! I am intrigued by nudity. That’s right, I find myself incredibly engaged by naked people…but probably not for the reasons that you would assume. I thought that before saying anything, I would mention the places that we actually see naked bodies in our daily, or maybe not so daily, lives. Movies (mostly porn), magazines (again, mostly porn), in the bedroom, in your mirror, and that’s about it! I think that’s a huge problem, and for two reasons. First, the human body is incredibly sexualized because the simple act of exposing it is considered to be risqué, taboo, erotic, provocative, and many other words that could imply some sort of sexual invitation. The sight of a naked person tends to do two things to people. They either get really uncomfortable, or their tongues start wagging and their naughty bits crave attention. Why such a strong response? We were born into this world stark naked, so being naked should really be something that produces no response at all. Truth be told, if you find someone attractive, do you not still find them attractive with their clothes on? Of course you do! So getting turned on by someone when they are undressed really has less to do with them being naked, and has more to do with the simple fact that you find them attractive…Which leads me to my next point. The bodies we actually see are not an accurate representation of what “real” bodies look like. The people we see are paid to have bodies like that. If they don’t, they’re out of a job. Not to mention the fact that pictures in magazines are airbrushed, and actors are placed in more flattering light, and are done up with tons of makeup. That being said, if we’re constantly exposed to these pictures of “attractive” people that turn us on, is it not natural to then equate nudity to sex? How often do we ever get to see naked bodies in any other way? I was lucky enough to grow up in a house where my Mom didn’t have any hang-ups about nudity. She taught me that you should feel comfortable in your body, because it’s YOURS. I have grown up to see my body as more than just a sexual object, and because I can appreciate it for what it is, I experience a sense of pride knowing that I am taking care of it. I know that I’m not going to have the body of the woman on the cover of MAXIM (partly because her picture likely got sent to the editors with a note to “reduce thighs, lift breasts, enhance hips, even out skin tone”…you can probably see where I’m going with this). I cover up all the time because it’s illegal to expose myself in public, and even if it wasn’t, our culture has a long way to go before it would be accepted to suntan nude at the local outdoor swimming pool in the summer. I wish that we didn't live in a culture where others automatically assume that somebody is trying to communicate a sexual message when they simply show their body. Maybe they are trying to send that message, but maybe they just feel more comfortable that way. I like being naked! Why? Because everything that we put on our bodies defines us in some way. Our clothes define us, and as a result, others judge, maybe not intentionally, but they judge. Just think - if everyone was naked all the time, we would realize that we all have much more in common with other people than we originally thought. We could start a revolution!

Media index

Lioness 'orchardfruit'
29 Mar 09
Photos
ZIP - 46 images

ARTIST PROFILE

birthplace: Canada
currently living in: East coast of Australia
occupation: Teacher/fitness instructor
age: 23
height: 157 cm
weight: 54 kg
relationship status: Single and happy, yet not opposed to relationships
starsign: Leo
biggest passion in my life: People and their stories.
I like to listen to: the thoughts of young children who haven't yet been tainted by the expectations of society.
I like to watch: new love blossoming.
I like to smell: fresh rain, and citrus fruits.
I like to taste: coffee in the morning.
I like to feel: the rush of new experiences.
favourite part of my body: My back, which is why I chose it to be the canvas for my tattoo.
favourite part of someone else's body: It's a tie between back and hands.
Why i shot myself: I discovered that FECK could give me the opportunity to photograph myself in the way nature intended...pure, vulnerable, and nude.
who I'd least like to see shoot themselves: My older generation relatives.
who I'd most like to see shoot themselves: Probably my best male friends. It would be interesting to see their vulnerabilities captured on camera.
my website/fav website: Probably Google.com. I'm always full of silly questions, and google has truly kept me from driving myself insane with all of them.
Most outrageous thing I have done: Jumped off an 18 meter cliff into the water. I went on to become a school teacher for grade 7-12 students.
Bands I like: I love so much that I couldn't possibly choose. It really depends on the mood I'm in.
Books I like: "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad, "The Memory Keeper's Daughter""by Kim Edwards, and "The Devil and Miss Prym" by Paulo Coelho.
Films I like: Disney movies are always great. "Man on Fire" and "Freedom Writers" are a couple favorites.
other random stuff: Some of my favorite things to do include running, dancing, being active, the arts, nature, going out with friends, singing in the shower, challenging stereotypes, meeting new people.

LIONESS