Perfectly Flawed [The Shape of Black]
Posted on November 20, 2009
Filed Under PEEP THIS!, CULTURAL MUSINGS, VISUAL ARTS
They say if Eve did not eat the apple, women (and men) would have forgiving eyes when they come across the visual display of the female body. Unfortunately, knowing the female body doesn’t come with understanding, and time has allowed our fantasies and ideals to create a bondage around it. It seems the more humans are exposed to anatomy, the more they become obsessed with perfecting it. When females -in particular- are observed as objects (sex symbols, video vixens, and ANTM’s), they no longer feel comfortable in their own skin. The hissing, the grabbing, and the judging weighs too much. So they become afraid to communicate with their bodies. They lose the feminine walk, and cover their curves under layers of clothing, because they are unsure about what they see. If humans can understand that perfection lies within the imperfections, they will begin to appreciate the female body as it is, flaws and all. The Shape of Black (an exhibit-installation produced by Social Mogul, Divine Bradley) is a collection of black and white photographs (captured by professional photographer, Cathrine Westergaard) that celebrate the beautiful bodies of Black women. The Shape of Black exceeds a snap-and-develop moment; it is a visual novel that tells the stories of individual Black women and their choice to celebrate their bodies the way it is.
Toni Burke: What inspired The Shape of Black? Cathrine Westergaard: Divine approached me about the exhibit idea over a year ago and I fell in love with the concept. If felt like it was time to celebrate an area of beauty that is so under celebrated in mainstream society and the art world. Black women have the most beautiful curves, and historically, cultures have worshiped strong shapes and womanly ideals, not the heroin chic images women are compared to now. As a woman, it is impossible to go through life and not be affected by commercial standards and ideals of beauty. Divine and I both felt it was time to open up a dialogue on the subject and give black women a chance to tell their stories. Divine Bradley: I wanted to create an installation that celebrated women and dealt with the years of insecurities women faced. I’ve come into contact with a lot of beautiful women, that didn’t see their beauty due to minor imperfections…and I saw them differently. So I wanted to capture that in a very tasteful, provocative display of black and white photography. I knew that Cathrine would be the best person to create the still version of what I seen.
TB: When you refer to the word ‘Black’, is it comprehensive of all Black women or specifically directed towards African-American (Black) women? CW: Our mission with The Shape Of Black is to create a global conversation so we intend for this installation to travel and incorporate black women from all over the world. It is also important to understand that The Shape Of Black is not only about the color of the women; it is more than that. It is about the space we inhabit. Artists learn through our formal art training that it is equally important to look at the negative spaces of our subject as the positive space. The Shape of Black is really about looking at black women’s beauty and bodies as art. DB: The shape of black has multiple meanings. Its primarily about womenof color…period, which goes across many cultural boundaries. Secondary, we want to open it up to more women because the title is really about the black and white photography being taken…focusing on the contour of the body- whether it is their hands, feet, or back. I wanted to start with women of color specifically because those are the first women I encountered in my family dealing with these insecurities. Women, after having babies talk about stretch marks, body parts expanded and they felt they weren’t as beautiful any more; I grew up hearing that all my life.
TB: The Shape of Black’s mission states, “[These images] will show you the real definition of[Black] beauty.” What is your definition of real Black beauty, and how does it compare to the real beauty of other races? CW: These images are real stories, told by real black women about their real relationship to their bodies and their sense of beauty. Our goal is to redefine the ideals of black beauty prevalent in magazines and the music industry. I am merely the visual vehicle and the storyteller. This exhibit is not a comparison between women in any sense of the word. I feel comparing ourselves is what has gotten us into such a mess in the first place. The Shape Of Black is a safe place where women can begin to explore themselves. We need to come to terms with these issues if our goal is to learn to love ourselves. DB: Real black beauty is extremely genuine and captures [black] women as they liberate and celebrate themselves.
TB: There must be a significant reason that all of the models are nude. What does the nudeness signify? How does nudity relate to the real beauty of Black women? CW: Nudity for this particular exhibit seemed imperative. We wanted to capture black beauty in the most simple and pure way. This seemed especially important in today’s society where most “beautiful images” are more focused on clothes, shoes, and make-up. Anyone who was there at the first round of shooting would agree that being nude was critical to The Shape of Black’s mission. During the first hour or so, all the women were sitting fully covered and nervous. We began by shooting images for the piece called celebration. Each woman was asked to strip down to their birth given beauty and dance for me. Two hours into the shoot, I turned around and these same women were walking around naked, strutting and exuding the most beautiful sense of joy. It is amazing how quickly we can begin to open up and how our attitudes can shift. We need courage and willingness to really confront our own limitations and ideas, and sharing our naked self is a very effective way to do this. DB: …and not all images are shot 100% exposed. Women shot at their own discretion. It’s their expression…period.
TB: Do you think nude photography –although artistically illustrated- counteracts The Shape of Black’s mission to define real Black beauty? Why/ why not? CW: Absolutely not. It is, in fact, essential in doing so. Nude art goes back in time to the beginning of history. We are now stuck in a really strange conservative period in American history, full of contradictions and unhealthy messages. It is up to us to push through this fear-based sense of right and wrong and embrace new ideals. Why would our culture allow – even encourage - all the violent images we put out there but not embrace and celebrate nudity? We are born naked…we have sex naked…we look at ourselves naked every day. Nudity is so basic. I cannot even grasp how we can still be so afraid of it and how we can teach our children to be so cruel to them selves. Our body houses our spirit, mind and heart and I think if we remove ourselves from all the fear and pain, we can begin a new movement. DB: Real black beauty is extremely genuine and captures [black] women as they liberate and celebrate themselves. We’re not trying to compare it to the beauty of other races at all. What we’re starting a movement that focuses on women of color. It’s not an ethnic thing.
TB: Divine, most of your recognition is linked to your outstanding services with the youth and Team Revolution (your youth-based non-profit organization). As the Executive Producer of this installation, how does The Shape of Black’s message coincide with your contribution to youth empowerment? DB: [This project is] about my life’s purpose and mission. I want to inspire and liberate people. As a father, a brother, and soon to be husband, I feel it’s my responsibility to contribute to push the message of celebrating your God given beauty and I want to acknowledge women and their beauty. Direct comparisons to any program dealing with young people, is that I want young men to know that I am an advocate for this and I see something different, verses what they see in the media. And for young girls, I want to be responsible for creating something advocating the freedom of their beauty.
TB: I would have loved to see images of Black adolescent and elder females. Do you consider them apart of The Shape of Black? If so, how do these images represent/relate to them? CW: These images only represent round one of the shooting schedule. We have four more shoots to produce for the installation to be complete. As for adolescents, I think they are too young to really be objective about this process and to understand the complex issues we are openly talking about. As for older women, yes yes yes! We already have some signing on and I am thrilled about it. I bow down to older women in every aspect and only hope I can offer them a new experience that might complete their own natural emotional cycle.
TB: Cathrine, since you embody all the criteria for this project, you are in fact, the perfect spokes-model for The Shape of Black. As a female and professional photographer, how does your role in this project assist you in spreading political and social awareness about feminine Black beauty? CW:…As an artist it is important for me to play an influential role in challenging attitudes and ideals. This exhibit is created with the intention of stimulating thoughts and emotions. My work speaks about beauty… no matter what the subject might be. These images will ask the audience to look at the beauty of black women as art. I want to open people up and ask them to see the beauty of black women the way that I do. It is so important for art to provoke people, to rethink the limitations we create for ourselves. We have been celebrating women in art for centuries and I hope this exhibit will remind us to broaden our spectrum and celebrate black women in a new way.
TB: There are so many political and social issues that encounter the bodies of Black women across the world. Sexual exploitation, body mutilation, self-hate, educational restrictions, economic deprivation, and social incarceration and abandonment are just a few of many. What are some political and social issues addressed in this installation? How is it communicated through Westergaard’s images? CW: These images belong to the women who came to me and gave me the honor of capturing their story. I do not force anything nor do I tell them what to say. I think for each woman, her story came from her own life experiences and each one had a different and personal reason to participate. I am neither standing on a soapbox nor am I preaching one way or another. I am merely asking women to explore themselves and I stand by them no matter what they want to say. They are free to hide their bodies or open them up to see every detail and beautiful shape. I think as women we carry within our experience a global experience. Because of the media and access to the world through the Internet, not one of us can say our relationship to ourselves is isolated. These women’s courage will hopefully have a domino effect and our dream is that The Shape of Black will help mark a new era.
TB: How do these issues personally affect you as an Artist? CW: I had the great fortune a few years ago to become close friends with a very famous and provocative photographer. She encouraged me to become a subject of her work. I ended up going on a major personal journey through her images that I never could have anticipated. Having her take nude photographs of me transformed something in me. I went from feeling so much shame about my body to quite the opposite. I did not even know it was happening at the time, but a few years later, I really saw the effect it had on me. I wanted to be able to give this gift back to the other women and because I really see all women as representations of beauty, I felt I was the right artist for this exhibit.
TB: Which ideal corporation you would want to sponsor this project? Why? CW: MAC. I see this company as a great symbol of women, celebrating their individuality and inner diva. The company was also one of the first to make giving back an inherent and huge aspect of its business. Viva Glam, for me, embodied my adolescent desire to become a powerful sexy woman. DB: Carol’s Daughter.
TB: Considering the wide global scale of Black women, what is the universal message that you want Black women to receive from this installation? CW: The only thing standing between self-loathing and self-love is perception. Find the courage to think and see for your self. A new beauty movement has begun…and it’s about time!
TB: I love the simplicity of this particular project; some of the most effective messages travel through the simplest forms. Keeping that (and The Shape of Black) in mind, deliver an original message to our TRACE readers in three simple words. CW & DB: Free. Your. Beauty!!!!
See more The Shape of Black photography here.
Words courtesy of Toni Burke
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