The message I am giving is that there are walls within people as well as within cities. These women I photographed all suffered from body issues and they live hiding their distress within caged bodies.These are their own words below. All photos 2008.
1 - Tamara
"I am a very big woman. As much as I feel I am a beautiful person, I often fear it does not show through all my layers of fat. On the other hand, I feel blessed that I have a rather clear complexion and a lovely facial structure, and if you take away the fact that I am so heavy, I have nice proportions but that's what it always comes down to: 'I'm hot, as long as everyone ignores tÌhat I am fat."
2 - Elise
“I was molested and photographed by a caregiver when I was 7 or 8 years old. I’m not sure how long it went on for, maybe several months or maybe a year. I stayed silent about it for a few years and when I could no longer I taught myself to stay silent even longer.”
3 - Susannah
"This pale, freckled body has been unloved as long as I can remember. It has been neglected, raped, bullied, bruised and broken. It has been starved and stuffed, parched, poisoned and pushed to exhaustion. It should be thanked and respected for its persistent strength and resilience to anger, sadness, shame and abuse taken out on it... but it's not."
4 - Erika
"I've always felt insecure about my body. For me, going out to a club, or a beach or even going to the gym is complicated. I get there and I see all the tall, tiny, beautiful people, all the girls who can wear strapless dresses, bikinis and tight tank tops, and I want to be them."
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