honorable mention
Courtney Ares united states
title
Unfuckable
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entry description
Motivated by an interest in the human body and the various forms in which it presents itself visually, I use photography to explore the creative and conceptual potential of the nude human figure. As a result I have become sensitive to the role our bodies play in determining how we fit into modern society. Recently this has lead me to examine the female body and the influence it has on society's perception and treatment of women. In this ongoing series "Unfuckable", I have exaggerated the imperfections of my body to an extreme, creating grotesque and bizarre self portraits that challenge the societal pressure placed on women to conceal their flaws and feel insecure about them. Refusing to accept this degrading and unjust expectation simply because I have a female body, I instead celebrate my imperfections and explore the many variations in appearance they enable me to achieve.about the photographer
Courtney Ares is a intuitive and tenacious photographer bringing awareness to one's subconscious while exploring the often ignored and uncomfortable. Currently, she is completing a BFA in Art with an emphasis in photography at Winthrop University. Following in the footsteps of some of her favorite artists Sally Mann, Diane Arbus, and Mona Kuhn, she too chooses to make nude photography a main focus in her work. She focuses on ideas revolving around the human body, contortion, and surrealism. Recently she has been focused on photographing the female body and examining the influence it has on society's perception and treatment of women. Through making her pictures she is able to reach the viewer in a confrontational way that forces them to acknowledge often ignored topics such as sexism, gender equality, sexual harassment, etc. Most of the recent series she has made also take a confronting, but an ironic approach to these topics.back to gallery
