Reality: 1810
Model: Conundra
Bodypaint and makeup: Lisa Berczel/Battledress Paint-n-Body
July 21, 2008
This shoot is a continuation of my own exploration of the "corset bodyscape" image, with the variation that in this case, the corset is made of bodypaint rather than fabric and metal. This is also the first in what will be a series of collaborations between myself and the amazing Lisa Berczel.
Each shoot will portray a different theme revolving around the feelings of inadequacy and conformity that can be imposed by culture upon an individual. Each model in the series will wear bodypaint that depicts her or his own struggle to come to terms with pressures ranging from race to religion to appearance.
This first paint and shoot explores the issue of body image and beauty standards. While an "art model" or "alternative model" does not have to meet a particular and rigid height/weight/measurement standard in the way that a fashion model does, this in no way lessens the societal pressure for her as a woman to conform to an "ideal" standard of beauty and body shape.
Here, Conundra's painted corset, authentic to a vintage 1810 design, and containing about 8 hours of airbrushing and hand painting work by Lisa, shows what her body "should" look like according to one set of standards. Her true body shape is blacked out beyond the bounds of the corset, yet visible to show the contrast between the "ideal" and her natural, real, and very beautiful figure.
Conundra's portfolios:
Model Mayhem
deviantArt
Lisa's portfolios:
www.battledress.biz
Model Mayhem
deviantART
|
|