Bodies of Work
Author Lionel Shriver describes the sensation of feeling beautiful as a “short-lived, little crack high.” Shaved hair grows back and makeup washes away, so we have to wake up the next morning to do it all again. Each time this process is repeated, ones appearance is closely scrutinized. My work is primarily concerned with exploring the significance and consequences of this ritualized self-scrutinization. Through self-portraiture, I showcase these "self care" rituals not only as a form of labor and maintenance, but as explorations of identity and intimacy conducted within a uniquely fraught, feminine space, while acknowledging the complex challenges of navigating the inherently contradictory spheres of self-care, grooming, and consumption.
