Feminism is an urgent and vital topic, yet it is often perceived as too broad and complex by many. This project serves as my exploration of this issue through the perspective of women's bodies. Within this project, I initiate an imaginative conversation with ten Magnum photographers with my own layer of interpretation through experimental collages.
Tools: Touchdesigner
Antoine d'Agata
The concept of the male gaze occurs when a male figure gazes directly at a female figure, while the female figure does not return the gaze. In this collage, I've taken a photograph of a sleeping naked woman captured by Antoine d'Agata and transformed it in a manner where only certain parts of her body are visible, while others remain concealed behind a 'mysterious fog.' This is my attempt to challenge the male gaze directed at women's bodies. The subjects in Agata's photographs are often prostitutes, which makes me wonder whether the male customers will perceive this interplay of revealing and concealing the female body as flirtatious—a common phenomenon in our society.
Myriam Boulos
Can our bodies remember history? Myriam Boulos discussed how she and her friends would 'take pictures naked in the streets of Beirut' as a means to reclaim their streets and bodies. In this collage, I've layered the body with photos of the streets of Beirut, allowing the fire to be reflected on the body, with the bombing being the background. I aim to prompt the audience to think about the intricate relationship between their bodies, the space they inhabit, and the passage of time, especially during times of uncertainty.
Susan Meiselas
For this collage, I used a photograph from Susan Meiselas' 'Carnival Strippers' series. I associated the color pink with the carnival girls, who were very young at the time. They turned to stripping as their only means of escaping the small town they grew up in. The pink in the collage appears to breathe, symbolizing the youthful, rosy, and naive energy that still resides within these girls.
Patrick Zachmann
Women in the red-light districts sell their bodies, yet their presence is often marginalized, particularly in East Asian societies where such jobs are stigmatized and lacking protection. This collage serves as a direct visualization of the societal process of slowly erasing them, their bodies, emotions, and stories from the world.
Bieke Depoorter
In 'Agata,' Bieke Depoorter delves into the complicated relationship between the photographer and the subject. While viewing the photographs in this series, I found myself pondering whether Depoorter was depicting the real 'Agata' or if 'Agata' was revealing her genuine identity. Despite having seen her naked body, I still felt like I knew very little about her. This contemplation led me to consider the performative nature of our bodies. In this collage, I attempt to capture the various facets of Agata through layering and mirroring. They gradually blend into each other but can never truly become one.
Enri Canaj
Female bodies often bear not only the weight of themselves but also the weight of their children. I created this collage while attempting to imagine how the days unfold for the Syrian refugee mother captured in this photo taken by Enri Canaj. The colors within the collage signify the transition between day and night, revealing hidden emotions. Red symbolizes brutality, anger, and danger; dark blue represents the night sky, as well as power and responsibility; while yellow conveys hope. Through this collage, I endeavored to capture the complex emotions within the mother's body as she carries her child in her arms to cross the border.
Werner Bischof
I am inspired by Bischof's experimental practice of connecting women's bodies and nature. His use of light, geometric shapes, and found natural objects perfectly captures the intricate relationship between women and nature. His "The Body Observed" series prompts me to contemplate on how natural elements adorn the naked body, like the fashion accessories. In a society where women are constantly targeted by fashion companies and are pressured to keep up with ever-changing micro-trends, it is essential to remind ourselves of the beauty of our naked bodies, free from the consumerism and beauty standards imposed upon us by society. In my collage, I overlay four photos that blend into one another, displaying the beauty of women’s bodies merging with nature. However, I also create a dilated effect to illustrate the ephemeral nature of this relationship.
Chien-Chi Chang
In Chien-Chi Chang's photos, women are consistently depicted in a state of slumber, in stark contrast to the chaotic and active environments surrounding them. This has led me to contemplate the pervasive experience of fatigue, a state that is so common in people's daily lives, particularly among women who often must juggle between work and caring for their children. However, women's exhaustion is frequently overlooked, and in many East Asian countries, complaining about it will sometimes be unfairly labeled as “being lazy”. This collage serves as my endeavor to illustrate the bustling mental state of women, who, even while taking a nap, are constantly preoccupied with the responsibilities and trivial errands they must attend to.
Olivia Arthur
What does it mean for a woman's body when it becomes pregnant, when it is encased by a bra, when it is instructed to be concealed? In this collage, I incorporated three images by Olivia Arthur, including photographs of her pregnant belly, impressions left by bra straps, and a woman tearing her clothes to reveal her breasts. By distorting the lens, my aim is to depict how women's bodies continue to be 'shaped' or 'morphed' into something else. At a certain point, the distortion makes the collage resemble a pregnant womb.
René Burri
I have always been intrigued by Yves Klein's "body work," and the photos taken by René Burri of Klein in the studio shed light on the backstory of this avant-garde artist. While many people criticize Klein's practice of using women's bodies as mere paintbrushes, the women who collaborated with Klein have expressed that they were treated with the utmost respect. This collage is not intended to criticize or praise Klein's practice but to showcase the creative potential that women have been carrying within their bodies for centuries, often overlooked by society. My goal is to achieve this by allowing the Klein blue to emanate from the women's bodies and slowly fill the canvas. This collage is my attempt to give credit to the women collaborators and, perhaps, my hope that one day women can fully unleash the immense artistic potential within them on their own.
Photo Credits:
Antoine d'Agata France. 2002. © Antoine d'Agata | Magnum Photos
Susan Meiselas The dressing room. Fryeburg, Maine, USA. 1975. © Susan Meiselas | Magnum Photos
Olivia Arthur Family life. From the series "Waiting for Lorelei." London, England, 2017. © Olivia Arthur / Magnum Photos © Olivia Arthur
From the series So Not So. All images © Olivia Arthur/Magnum Photos for Saint Laurent, curated by Anthony Vaccarello.
Olivia Arthur, Philipp Ebeling, Anatomical 3, 2021
Bieke Depoorter Agata. Paris. France. November 2, 2017. © Bieke Depoorter | Magnum Photos
Bieke Depoorter Agata. November, 2017. Paris, France. © Bieke Depoorter | Magnum Photos
CHINA. Province of Zhejiang. Wenzhou. 2005 © Patrick Zachmann / Magnum Photos
SOUTH KOREA. Seoul at night. Red light district of Itaewon. 2004 © Patrick Zachmann / Magnum Photos
Patrick Zachmann. Anny, bar hottess. Shanghai, China. 2005 © Patrick Zachmann / Magnum Photos
Enri Canaj A Syrian mother holds her 4-month-old baby just after crossing the sea border between Turkey and Greece by boat — arriving at Inousa, Greece. © Enri Canaj | Magnum Photo
René Burri French artist Yves Klein directing a model in "body art painting". Rue Campagne Premiere. 14th arrondissement. Paris. France. 1961. © René Burri | Magnum Photos
René Burri French artist Yves Klein directing a model in "body art painting". Rue Campagne Premiere. 14th arrondissement. Paris. France. 1961. © René Burri | Magnum Photos
Werner Bischof "Zebra woman". Zurich. Switzerland. 1942. © Werner Bischof | Magnum Photos
Werner Bischof "Nude back". Zurich, Switzerland. 1941. © Werner Bischof | Magnum Photos
Werner Bischof SWITZERLAND. Zurich. 1941. Nude. "Breast with grid." © Werner Bischof | Magnum Photos
Werner Bischof SWITZERLAND. Zurich. "Butterfly". 1941. © Werner Bischof | Magnum Photos