“My freckles”, “the dark circles under my eyes”, “my small breasts”, “love handles”, “my uncontrollable curly hair”: these are some of the responses dropped into a box at an art installation that asks people to “Name something you find beautiful about yourself.”
The exhibition, called Franchise: The Ideal Woman, promotes a phrase that you might not have heard before but is perfectly in-keeping with contemporary ideas of holistic health: “image wellness”.
The installation consists of two photographs of Tasha Copley, a photographer and the fiancée of Orlando-based artist SKIP who created the exhibition. One confronting image shows Copley marked up by plastic surgery “guidelines”. The other shows a more natural Copley, “showcasing her natural beauty and comfort in her own skin.”
Between the two photographs is a mirror with a sign hanging above it, asking “What do you see when you look in the mirror?”
People don’t have to be in Orlando, Florida to answer the question. The exhibition is reaching a global audience with its Facebook and Instagram pages and is taking responses from all over the world.
A promotional image for the art installation, Franchise: The Ideal Woman. (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A promotional image for the art installation, Franchise: The Ideal Woman. (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A confronting image shows a woman marked up by plastic surgery “guidelines”. [This image has been censored] (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
The other shows a more natural image of the same woman in her natural beauty. [This image has been censored] (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
Between the two photographs is a mirror with a sign hanging above it. (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
It asks “What do you see when you look in the mirror?” (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
Another sign asks people to name something you find beautiful about yourself. (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
The artists, SKIP and Tasha Copley. (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission received to the project and posted on the Facebook page. “My legs are short and strong. They take me 6 miles a day, and more if I ask them.” (Photo: Instagram/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
A submission to the request “name something you find beautiful about yourself.” (Photo: Facebook/cantstoptheidealwoman)
