OVERVIEW

Having spent most of my life moving around, I have learned that every person has their own story that goes beyond borders. This human diversity is the basis for my art, in which people are liberated to reveal their deepest self. In my photography, performance, or filmmaking, I often collaborate with multiple volunteers, from a variety of social backgrounds, to equalise ideas. So far, five hundred participants have been involved in my work. I see my art as a platform of expression for other people and myself; a platform that empowers us all. This unveils harsh truths, signs of human fragility, and moments of raw beauty.

Capturing emotions is a centre of my work. This immersion in the stories of strangers serves to show other perspectives, and to discover how society can be reconsidered to benefit every single human. I put myself within many projects to engage in a personal experiment with the themes and experiences of the other participants. My goal is to show the power of the individuals and their will – to manifest a less polarised world where everyone is tolerated for who they really are.

I like to challenge the societal taboos – not with an agenda, but affection; to learn, to analyse, and ultimately to understand. I often question traditional ideologies, institutions and belief systems which restrain people from their personal growth. I consider homogenous and exclusive communities as an obstruction for the humanity to utilise its full potential.

From a female perspective, I analyse people through psychology, science, philosophy and spirituality. My art is also a product of my personal beliefs: The world thirsts desperately for the universal themes of diversity, tolerance, and love. It strives for a new, human identity which can replace the identity based on nationality, religion, race, social background or sexual orientation. We confront this human experience as individuals who are part of a single beating pulse of energy. We are all equal; we are all one.

 

 

STATEMENT IN DEPTH

My work is seen through the lens of the female gaze. It is in opposition to the mass media culture, my concerns re-address human physicality, sexuality, and identity and reposition it to rightful place for people of all genders. I explore a new way of photographing the body, inclusive of all varieties of subjects without discrimination. Beyond the dominating objectification of the male gaze.

Contemporary visual culture’s objectifying eye traps itself in a contradiction. It exposes us to a highly manipulated artificial idealism that is inconsistent with reality.

It suppresses the representation of the majority of natural body forms. This results in two negative effects: a lack of tolerance towards others and also a lack self-acceptance, age and body weight being the major factors that contribute to prejudice and self esteem. My aim is to produce art that offers the viewer an honest portrayal of the human form, without expressing judgment.It is a re-evaluation of the definition of sex and beauty. Also reinstating the female voice within this debate.

My major project, ’Let’s Talk About Sex’, is based on the psychology of sexual behaviour and its relationship to social values and politics. I seek to confront the visibility bias in nude photography and to represent all types of bodies—to show the inherent aesthetic beauty in nature that is interrupted by society’s standards. This art is in essence my call for a new wave of the body art revolution that first emerged in the 1960s that will focus on inclusivity. The art I produce necessitates a dialogue that allows for a wider acceptance and tolerance for diversity and equality.

 

The project can be appraised as a psychological experiment

Based on the work of Alfred Kinsey’s books, ‘Sexual Behaviour of the Human Male’ and ‘Sexual Behaviour of the Human Female’, in addition to research by other academics in the field of the Human Sexuality. The literature and the data they disseminate provides a unique insight into how people behave sexually, which is determined by factors including gender, age, sexual orientation, background, and religion.

The discussion of sex pervades as a taboo on an almost day-to-day basis throughout most cultures. If the debate is ever raised, it is never normally extended beyond the gay or straight paradigm. This suppression is heavily influenced by personal assumptions in regards to what is morally acceptable and what is considered deviant. Social conventions, cultural & religious prescripts, social environments and the law further add to the list of taboos.

When it comes to sex in mainstream culture there is a big generalisation towards this topic, namely ‘PIV’, penis in vagina. Although there are appearances in media on how disabled people, fat people or trans people have sex, they are still treated as the margins, an not integrated as normal.  I am speaking out for all to be seen as equals.We need to change the definition of what sex is, and what it means to different people. All of us need to remember: Every person is different; everybody looks different, works differently, feels different, and responds differently. 

 

‘Let’s Talk About Sex’

Is a project that allowed for openness from the participants, highlighting a long list of sexual deviations, most of which the general public are completely unaware of.  This also corroborates with Kinsey’s experiments.In this project. I selected 200 project volunteers to represent a wide social spectrum in many respects. The participants ranged from 11-76 years of age and represented a broad selection of genders, races, backgrounds and sexual orientations.

The volunteers were firstly interviewed and then photographed and a smaller selection had further interviews that were audio recorded. The photo-shoot involved participants engaging in the psychology of role-play.  The volunteers were allowed to portray any character they wished. Their choice of character did not necessarily portray their own sexuality, but did however reflect a subconscious alter ego.  The impulses for creating these personas were based on a whole range of experiences, from desire, fear or a curiosity to a reaction against a particular idea.

Is a project that allowed for openness from the participants, highlighting a long list of sexual deviations, most of which the general public are completely unaware of.  This also corroborates with Kinsey’s experiments.In this project. I selected 200 project volunteers to represent a wide social spectrum in many respects. The participants ranged from 11-76 years of age and represented a broad selection of genders, races, backgrounds and sexual orientations.

The volunteers were firstly interviewed and then photographed and a smaller selection had further interviews that were audio recorded. The photo-shoot involved participants engaging in the psychology of role-play.  The volunteers were allowed to portray any character they wished. Their choice of character did not necessarily portray their own sexuality, but did however reflect a subconscious alter ego.  The impulses for creating these personas were based on a whole range of experiences, from desire, fear or a curiosity to a reaction against a particular idea.

Interestingly, the participants wanted to share their stories and felt they needed to be heard. They desired to express their thoughts, feelings, traumas, joys, etc. They were all prepared for the challenges they set themselves. This was a means to liberate their bodies, to leave the trap they’ve been forced into by morality.

The candidness of the artworks humbles the audience with its honesty. They are challenged to rethink their views on other peoples sexuality as well as their own. This will seek to break open our abilities to hear out difficult and uncomfortable content, to shed a light on the tangible roots of sexual diversity as investigated initially by Alfred Kinsey. The variety of stories portrayed will attempt to open one’s opinion to a broader context, where just one story might lead to a biased judgment. Visitors will understand sexuality beyond the frame of their own subjective experiences.

My goal is to create a social revolution through art to bring back our bodies, to balance the scales with an honest look at physicality.