Explore my final project for Professor Ken Gonzales-Day's "Abject, Beauty, and Horror" course, a striking collection of six black and white images that intricately blend beauty with the abject. The nude female body, adorned in fake blood, becomes a canvas to both obscure and accentuate its curves and lines, establishing a captivating tension between attraction and repulsion.
Drawing inspiration from Robert Mapplethorpe, my photographs not only mirror his style, emphasizing form and utilizing deep tones for dramatic effect, but also challenge conventional representations of the female form in art. By presenting vulnerability and power in tandem, I aim to subvert the traditional male gaze, reclaiming agency for the female subject.
Situated between the realms of disturbance and beauty, this image series compels viewers to confront their perceptions of the female body in art. Using the abject as a tool for tension and disruption, I provoke a nuanced dialogue about societal norms surrounding the representation of the female form, encouraging a deeper exploration of traditional notions of beauty.