the universe took its time on you crafted you to offer the world something different from everyone else when you doubt how you were created you doubt an energy greater than us both. Rupi Kaur
Recently I was introduced to two artists by my good friend, Kika Yongho. Kika is someone who always has her virtual eyes and ears to the ground – looking for interesting new artists. builds, music – and even sales! Generous of spirit, she facilitates all of this information amongst her friends (lucky us). I hadn’t met or known either of these individuals before – and I wasn’t familiar with their work, but I was immediately intrigued. A first visit only left me wanting another. And after meeting them both and talking to them – I started pulling my thinking together to share with y’all.
Currently at the Rita Glad Showroom & Art, artist Rita Glad invites the viewer to join her on a journey. Her journey – your journey – or the journey of someone you know. Personal. Vulnerable. Courageous. Real. These emotions/feelings culturally induced – can travel with us to any life we are living.
“My Eating Disorder Diary” is truly a visual crash course. A walk through lays the issues bare. Interspersed between mixed cultural signals and the overload of social media – are the real ramifications of the disconnect – between celebrating who we are – or suffering the debilitating consequences of feeling that we don’t measure up….which can sometimes lead to self hatred.
We binge – on culture….using the current crop of social media platforms that are trending at the moment, on whatever our current food of choice is – something salty, something sweet, something that can be easily inhaled – because it could never be / we could never be – enough.
The images in the exhibit show the viewer two different sides of what life with an eating disorder often is. Externally: bent over an open fridge….in front of the television surrounded by junk food…kneeling in front of a toilet. These images are straightforward and intentional. We see what is happening. In addition, there are images that speak to what is happening internally. The internal confusion. carefully laid out in images that are chaotic in their composition. How Glad uses color and surface composition to portray this “inner” and “outer” space is worth looking at – especially when they are displayed together.
While this story is shaped entirely by my personal experiences and observations, it’s also a very universal problem; in fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a problem specific to a “specific sexual identity.” Because statistically, the leading roles in this story are mostly women.
Over at Photo Cafe, Kika Yongho is hosting “Femininity” by artist Roseleiya (Rose). Here, a series of carefully considered images are conversing with each other – and the viewer – about exactly how to define the word femininity. What it mean, how we wear and inhabit it. Overall each image is carefully considered and detailed. They are what Rose calls (and I agree) “harmonious…. compositions with a single color emphasized. I also appreciate monochrome imagery, though I prefer to keep the colors whenever possible.”
There are recurring themes and imagery in these pieces. Rose prefers to place her subjects slightly off-center, to blend into their surroundings rather than command attention. The goal is not to highlight the persons presence, but to let the story of the image be seen.
These images have a quiet power. They are meditations that ask for careful reflection.
The idea of this exhibition, Femininity, comes from my personal experiences as a woman. These experiences led me to reflect on how femininity can manifest beyond physicality. While appearances can only be altered so much, our sense of femininity is something we can always feel from within.
Roseleiya
The artist intends for these images to have “a hint of naturalness to them, and she considers how this virtual world can look “naturally,” untouched.” (More about this virtual world in a minute.)
Well aware that femininity and female characteristics are different, again – based on culture, based on faith traditions, based on personal history — for everyone; Roseleiya hopes that folks who struggle with what this means can find peace.
Femininity / Roseleiya
My own take on this – both artists are dealing with the ways that culture and/or the opinions of others can damage the way women see themselves. How they, as Kaur writes, doubt an energy greater than us both. Rita asks us to rethink the concept of ‘imperfect” and Rose invites us to consider with her what femininity is – and where it comes from.
Rose represents her ideas about femininity in the most romantic of ways – romantic in terms of a kind of self love that a woman must recognize and cherish in herself (however she sees or defines this). While Rita is taking us through a journey about struggling to find that self love.
A note about body image in Second Life – which could be it’s own post (or two or three). Early research on body image and SL explored how users create and perceive virtual bodies (avatars) and the implications for self-concept, social interaction, and psychological well-being. They found that the freedom to manipulate avatar appearance in Second Life leads users to experiment with idealized bodies that often reflect personal aspirations or societal beauty standards.
And this can be both positive and negative. Consider:
Second Life’s thriving fashion scene and influencer culture sometimes reinforce specific beauty standards, contributing to pressures that resemble those found in the real world. Users can create highly stylized, “idealized” looks, but there is also a visible presence of body-positive, diverse, and alternative avatars breaking conventional molds.
For some, avatar creation is a way to overcome real-life body insecurities and experiment with self-acceptance, while others may experience pressure to achieve a certain level of attractiveness or uniqueness online.
For many users, Second Life provides a safe environment to explore aspects of gender, body shape, and style without real-world risks or stigma. Customization allows for avatars representing disabilities, nonbinary identities, and fat-positive or unconventional bodies as well.
Users frequently discuss experiences of self-esteem, body image, and the balance between fantasy fulfillment and authenticity in community forums and social groups.
Body image in Second Life is a complex blend of empowerment, creativity, and sometimes the very same ideals and insecurities present outside the virtual world. How users engage with these possibilities depends heavily on their personal intentions and the communities with which they interact.
Visit the Photo Cafe to see Roseleiya’s Femininity.
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