Is it easy to be yourself? No, but it’s the only way to be free.

The project is about the frames in the head constructed by the general discourse of modern society, in particular, about the ideal body forms that define the “standard of femininity”. It touches on female vulnerability and the unfreedom of expressing oneself outside the set frameworks. Women’s self-identity. Three women with different fates took part in the project. Their ages ranged from 43 to 60 years old. Each of them has mastery, happiness and losses. In the course of filming they revealed themselves, loosened up, changed. Moments of true freedom and going beyond the usual stereotypes of any form — the main task of the session. And secret creativity happened, so similar to a therapy session, but deeper and more joyful.

Process:

Each participant has her own canvas. Drawing takes place in the improvisation mode on the basis of images, emotions and sensations arising at that moment. You can paint with any part of your body. As a result, the canvases and the painted body are a psychological portrait of the participants.

Medium: Digital photos, installation of four textile canvases, three postcards — business cards.Size of photos 50×70 cm. 12 pieces 4 for each author’s canvas. The fabric is vertically freely suspended. Fastening — rigid crossbeams and ropes. Size 150 cm x 200 cm. Collage on textile size 105×145 cm. The fixing is similar. Postcards: 3 pieces 15×20 cm

I am — Alive. Visual artist, photographer Liana Darenskaya, Moscow

Collage on canvas. 105×145 cm. Hanging from the top.

The world works in such a way that it is never too late to become what you are meant to be. The defragmented becomes whole during the process. The collage is centered with photos of the participants in their ordinary lives. And the process of creating canvases in the form of fragments and details associated with the state of the women and the photographer, with a line of assembly into a whole is presented. All the women are engaged in creating themselves through the art of drawing, being in the emptiness of their own space. Nothing is in their way. No flashes, no commands from the photographer. Only their own sensations.

Presumably behind each cloth are 4 photos corresponding to the author.

Explication

Anna. — vaftertaste:

“Total confusion 🫢, overcoming, an act of creativity!!! Joy, light, light hooliganism! A new look at yourself through the eyes of an artist. A pleasant acquaintance with yourself. A great desire to be a new color in your palette”.

Explication

Irina — aftertaste:

Filming. My first experience, at age 43. I’m in a studio. It’s cool — high ceilings, huge floor-to-ceiling windows, all white, lots of daylight and simple objects that look extremely interesting in this space. It’s also a dream of mine, a hairstylist’s dream — a huge mirror with a bunch of light bulbs all around it.

And then there are the ladies around me. So different, including with different degrees of familiarity with my person — someone I’ve known for a couple of hours, someone for a couple of minutes, someone for several years. But in this — an atmosphere of mental balance and comfort, there are no fears, no thoughts about anything else but the upcoming unknown process — we will smear colors like children, and nothing will happen to you for it, complete freedom.

Music is playing, I have three of my favorite sunny colors in my hands: warm yellow, lemon, orange — the colors of my native Egyptian town in northern Sinai. In moments these colors appear on me, turn into lines, flowers, spots, and I myself become because of them sun glints, colors from children’s drawings and it makes me feel warm and joyful. At these moments I remind myself of my painting “Forest Beauty”, written in love and happiness. I remember the eyes of my beloved watching me when I make up at the mirror.

All this happens under the lens of cameras, but I don’t notice it, I am in another world, a world of memories and warmth.

Explication

Anna D — aftertaste

Color: Black is scary, dirty, negative… darkness is scary in its obscurity.....

Silly stereotype! Black is not a color, it’s the absence of light! What I don’t tell, what I don’t show, what only I know about myself. And do I know?

Shape: I undressed, left only a string of pearls (without it I’ll be completely naked)… Critically examined myself in the mirror in full height. M-yes, my body is so-so, according to my age, it’s grown there, sagged here….

Stupid stereotype! I’m in shape. It’s not the same as it was 20-30 years ago, it’s different, it’s mine, and THIS shape is me. The shape changes, but me? I can change the shape!

Does the shape change me? Process: The first stroke is wet and sticky… Very similar… but new.

Another stroke, another and another. the first drop falls on a clean canvas… Oops, got it dirty?! Stupid stereotype!

And it started… Everything was used: brush, hands, nipples, knees, toes… Do I know what I painted? Emotions? Energy? Not the shape for sure, but does it even exist?! The result: “YES!”

To everything new, to madness, to me!!! Down with stereotypes, shapes and colors! There is what is! Light, colors, ignorance, shapes, difference, characters, destinies, moods, in unison, freedom, equality, unity, love, mental defloration, creative orgasm.

Double-sided printable postcards.

Merch.