*Please note: This collection does contain fine-art nude images. If you are offended by nudity, I would suggest viewing a different area of the site.
If you’re from a conservative Christian background, as I am, you learned “the body is a temple.” I just happen to be of the mind we should decorate it. I find body art / body modification to be a form of personal expression and a way to acknowledge the impact of certain events in my life. The tattoos and piercings I have are deeply personal, but there is also the aesthetic. I simply like the look of a lot of body modifications. While I’ve a firm grasp on my own motives, I wanted to find out more about the motives of others. What inspires their expressions in this form. What they find to be aesthetically pleasing. Many of the photos, you may notice, have a sort of high-fashion feel to them raising the issue of what we consider to be “beauty” or “fashionable.” It’s not about conforming to a standard as much as it is embracing who you were created to be.
This series is in evolution. I first had the concept several years ago, rooted in my own fascination of the culture and psychology, but I only just began shooting for it in July 2010. There are still a lot of things to be worked out, but I wanted to have the process be a part of the experience for my viewers. One of the questions still out there is how I will exhibit the final collection – be it a book, a gallery exhibition, a mixture of still and video pieces, etc. As I know more, I’ll update this text. In the meantime, enjoy the process.
