Bodyscapes: the idea
Bodyscapes was born out of my desire to explore the human form in depth, using the medium of monochromatic photography. That’s a fancy way to say I want to explore how bodies look in black and white. I chose not to use color edits in order to eliminate one aspect of reality. The goal is to see the body not as body, but rather as abstract – as a landscape of sorts. Look at the human form from a non-traditional gaze. See the pieces without seeing their function. Notice the parts without judging attractiveness.
I hope to have many models over time. All bodies are welcome. Email me if you’d like to participate. I have no specific plans for where this project will land. For now, it’s online. In the future, it may evolve into the physical world.
Bodyscapes: Amy
she is a chameleon
in the best of all ways
you ask
she’s there
in form
in format
in whatever way
the scene requires
she’s there
until
she’s not
because she disappears
into herself
while you see
whatever
whoever
is there
while she
is hidden
The Forgottens
we are made up of parts
upon parts
upon parts
billions of cells
How many times have you explored it all?
In truth, never. We can’t. We are only able to see some of our parts. Contortionists aside. So there are those forgotten parts. The ones we use and often ignore. The ones we forget to check in the mirror. The ones that are just as important as the rest.
Part of this project is to explore the entire human form. Especially the forgottens.
Voice
I have a voice.
We all do.
Yet I often feel unheard.
Unlistened to.
Screaming into the void.
Throat chakra choked and clogged
with all the repressed and swallowed
words
thoughts
feelings.
Body
the human body
is not merely
the sum of its parts
for if you were to
merely sum up its parts
you would lose
the very essence
of the human
and simply
have a body
Hold
how do you
hold yourself
when the self
is no longer
held in place
when the self
you once knew
has broken free
and you are left
to hold yourself
anew
See Me
all you ever see
is what you want
and expect
to see
so i have to
break you down
into pieces
that show
your humanity
Topography
topography of the flesh
proves
we come from the earth
as we are
reflections of the earth
embodied
topography of the flesh
shows
we do not float
in a single plane
of existence
no
we are dimensions
upon dimensions
hidden
within each other
topography of the flesh
records
how we grow and shrink
and birth and die
and evolve and rest
and break
and heal
topography of the flesh
is our roadmap
of lines and hills and valleys
of bumps and lumps
and curves and parts
topography of the flesh
breathes life
to a convoluted tangle of cells
and makes human
this bodyscape
Life
I consider myself pro-life. Calm down. Not like that. I am actually pro-life. Not pro-forced-birth. I believe in life. I believe we all have a right to live our life authentically. I believe in choice. We all have a right to know our spirit and to know what we want to do with our own bodies. All of us. I believe that controlling what one group of humans is allowed to do or not do to their own bodies is incompatible with life. Because life will out. No matter what the powers that be may say.
We will have bodily autonomy.
We do have bodily autonomy.
I stand with all marginalized and oppressed communities. This fight didn’t just start. This fight has been happening for centuries. If you’re just starting to feel the effects, you’re privileged. You need to educate yourself and respect those that have already paid their dues through blood, sweat, tears, and lives lost. This is but one chapter in a very long history of power and control. It’s up to us to decide the rest of the story.
Abortions are healthcare.
Birth control is healthcare.
Gender-affirming treatment is healthcare.
LGBTQ+ rights are imperative.
Black Lives Matter.
Black, Indigenous, and other People Of Color
deserve respect, rights, and reparations.
If you disagree, bye.
Thoughts on this project…
I’m beyond thankful for this project. When I started out, I didn’t know if anyone would volunteer. I didn’t know how to ask people to pose. I hadn’t really worked with mostly unclothed people I didn’t know. I was nervous, yet hopeful.
I didn’t know why I wanted to do this, just that my soul was asking for it. So I did what I could to answer that.
As I work with different people from varied life experiences, I feel my spirit speaking: Yes. See them. See what makes them unique. See their similarities. See their humanity. See yourself in them.
So I do. I am a tattooed artist. I am a mother. I am a survivor. I am each person who volunteered. Each person who volunteered is me. Because, that’s humanity. We are all part of each other. What makes us unique from each other is glorious. What we share as common traits or experience is even more beautiful.
i'm so glad you're here 