Nude Art vs. Sexual Content
Throughout history there have been great masters that have worked with the nude form in their art. When you talk about the work of creators like Leonardo De Vinci, Michelangelo, Edward Weston, Richard Avadon, and other great artist you would go see in an expensive gallery, magazine, or text book you don’t consider their work sexual content. You take it for what it is, a thoughtful work of art. All nudity doesn’t equal sex and not every artist wants to project something sexual in nature. Don’t get me wrong they are import topics to discuss but that doesn’t mean we all have the same voice or view point in the matter of nudity.
In history when we discuss the Italian renaissance Leonardo and Michelangelo are two of the most noted of all time. Works like the Vitruvian Man, Leda and the Swan, David, The Creation of Adam and even Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” are pieces that all other works of art are judged by. They studied the figure for it’s beauty, to understand the science of anatomy, and to tell stories of faith and mythology.
When you fast forward from the 1400-1500’s to the early – mid 1900’s landscape, fashion and art photographers like Avadon (Top row above) and Weston (Bottom row above) photographically did similar figure studies and editorials that shaped the marketing industry and fashion trends as we know them today. Their photos and techniques have been replicated, redone, and studied for the last 60 years making them the Godfathers of photography as we know it.
As a young artist in college I remember studying the controversial works of Sally Mann whom often shot day in the life photos of her children at play around her homes estate in Virginia. She allowed her children a clothing optional environment often capturing fleeting moments of their childhood on 4 x 5 large format black and white film. Her work is honest and non-sexual in nature even occasionally posing with her family like the center image depicted in the section below.
In the case of Dave Lachappelle he often satirically poked fun at social taboos. Lachappelle builds large elaborate sets with a dramatic, absurd, vibrant pop art depictions of celebrities, re-interpretations of classical art and current social prejudices. His style is reminiscent of his mentor the late Andy Warhol and published in major magazines globally.
As an artist of color I strive to break away from the stereotype that my work is sexual in nature. In today’s culture more often then not people tend to sexualize everything about the nude form. Before giving an honest look at a body of work it’s assumed that it’s pornographic in nature, but that’s not the case or intent behind what I shoot. Like the for mentioned masters above, I want my audience to look deeper and understand something more to the message besides sex. I want them to see self love, beautiful movement, the human condition of vulnerability and honest artistic creation.
It’s my goal to have my work appreciate over time the same way is has for the great masters of history. To stand the test of time hanging on walls of homes, private collections, galleries, offices, and editorials respected as intelligent inspiring fine art. When it’s all said and done I want those who come after me to look in the history books and say ” This is a Da Vinci, an Avadon, a Weston, a Warhol, a Mann, a Lachappelle, a Whitehead.”
