WHY DO WE DETERMINE SOMEONES WORTH THROUGH THE APPEARANCE IN RELATION TO THEIR HEALTH?
This question is what I am summing my research and conceptual ideas down to. I am reposing the initial research question, on aesthetic appearances (Q5) in a more personal way. Within my practice I looked at the conversation between fat acceptance and those opposing to overweight people and their health. I’d like to abolish the idea that someones health and appearance determines their worth. I want to start the conversation in a manner that favours people bodies as their own. As an initial experiment, when i put this idea out, someone starting to comment on my behaviour being self destructive. After then replying that That indeed was not the point of the topic, I was told that never the less, because I’m starting this conversation, I will be subject to comments and opinions on my body whether I was initially asking for it or not? This is the exact attitude I would like to question in my work.
To communicate this I’ve created cake sculptures and a photograph out of an 2D artwork and inserting myself into the artwork. The cake sculptures are a juxtaposition of the the worth we place on things according to it’s image and health, hence the use of cakes themselves, a symbol of ‘bad diet’. I also created a photograph which incorporates an experiment with type as well as a self portrait to interrupt the conversation going on behind me, which includes both sides of the conversation on fat acceptance. This is a strong statement that my body is mine, and not for anyone else.
Throughout my practice I’ve made sure to continue to refer back to the course concept and continue to research and develop ideas within the 7 concepts. For continued divergent and convergent thinking, I researched materials and techniques of artist to expand my own ideas from my initial poster. the use of putting myself into the image of lettering developed from the work of Alexa Meade, who used the body as a canvas in order to play with the 3D and 2D. I expanded my ideas through thinking of the body as a canvas, and bring the idea of beauty and perceptions of the beauty in the body back into my concept. This then flowed into my cake sculptures, where I took this idea of worth in beauty and less in the not beautiful a juxtaposed them in two different cakes.
I kept alien methods in mind by continuing to be influenced by and using the practice of other artists in my work. This is evident in both my use of food as a medium and to use a self portrait in a ‘alien’ way for my photograph. The idea of working with food was developed from Alexa Meades initial photographs of acrylic on food, as well as the Obesity is Suicide campaign by Brandon Knowlden. The use of self portrait was also influenced by Frida Kahlo and her depictions of herself in surreal environment.
Both affects and body politics and desire relate very closely to my concept. My works are also very much involved in the social politics of public view and cultural thought on the overweight body and it’s aesthetics, what’s acceptable and what is not, and question this. My desire for this project is for audience to react different to how i often see people react to the idea that overweight bodies are separate from their health.
Within my works I’ve been very careful to present both sides of the current conversation that is happening about fat acceptance, in order to present different context. I didn’t want to work with only my opinions but present the conversation and my body as my own to an audience, but also researching and showing and questioning the other side of the conversation. I also was influenced by Erwin Wurm’s sense of humour in his presentation of similar ideas. He said in an interview “Most artworks try to represent something lofty and important, but I find pathos repulsive. I want to address serious matters but in a light way.” I wanted to capture this in my own work with my cakes.
I used the concept of value within my exploration with worth. What is worth more or less. The relationship between fresh flowers and dying flowers, their difference in value, in juxtaposition to the relationship between beauty and weight, and how it will change ones worth. I also looked at ‘uncreativity’ through using a simple recipe that can be found anywhere on the internet very easily, or bought for 72cents at Woolworth’s, to create my sculptures.
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