What are we really seeing when we look at a body? This work is a meditation on shape and the role of bras in shaping ideas about feminine bodies. Through simplified silhouettes, I explore the diverse shapes of bodies with breasts and the shapes idealized through bra advertising.
Every fashion era has its own idealized feminine silhouette. The first part of the project explores the ideal silhouettes of different eras, starting with the emergence of bras in the early 1900s. These iconic era silhouettes are made from ink, using text from the era’s bra advertisements.
The second part of the project uses gouache to create silhouettes of real bodies. The deep matte black finish of gouache emphasizes the minimalism of the silhouettes and allows us to see our shapes without the distractions of clothing and other objects.
Through a diversity of shapes, this project invites the viewer to see the body as it is, rather than through the lens of structures or conventions that are there to create an idealized form.
