Project_ISM - erotic art & public nudity

ALI_A

ARTISTS STATEMENT

My mum brought my sister and I up in the nude. Well, pretty much. Being naked in our family was more normal, and more often our state of attire (or lack thereof) growing up in the grassy backyards of sunny Queensland, where you can happily be nude 11 out of the 12 months of the year because it's so damn warm all the time. When my mum moved to Australia from England at the age of 12, her and her three sisters, mother and father, lived on a nudist colony for a year. This shaped not only her life, but mine too. Her ease and constant nudity growing up is a huge part of why I feel so happy and natural in the nude, and has helped me overcome many issues and insecurities about myself over the years. I've always said I am more comfortable naked than I am in clothes, unless it's really cold! Despite having a liberal childhood and being happily naked, I still went through an adolescent eating disorder and struggled with self-consciousness and confidence around my body as a teen and early 20’s, as do a lot of women in our critical society. It’s been a long and arduous journey over the years to teach myself how to love and accept my body, with all its glory and flaws. I appreciate and admire the beauty of any other woman's bumps, curves and imperfections, but when it comes to my own I am hugely critical, again, as most women are. I found shooting myself a challenge at first for this reason. Despite my efforts over the years to accept and love my body just how it is, when you see all your lumps and spots and imperfections on camera, it’s hard not to be judgmental. This is a big part of the reason why I chose to shoot myself. Appreciating the artistic way I can view my own body, being in control of actually pressing that shutter myself and being pleasantly surprised at what comes out as beautiful and real, was an empowering experience.

Media index

Ali_A 'mad_ali'
11 Dec 14
Photos
ZIP - 47 images

ARTIST PROFILE

birthplace: The sunny city of Brisbane, Australia.
currently living in: The most amazing creative share house of 8 beautiful, supremely talented people.
occupation: Artist by trade and artist by nature, also a professional chameleon.
age: 24 years young.
height: I stand at around 169cms naturally but love boots, so often measure up taller :P
weight: 62kgs.
relationship status: Unlucky in love, but a lover nevertheless.
starsign: The typical Virgo, ultimate perfectionist!
biggest passion in my life: I have many passions in my life that I find hard to categorize each with any less importance than the other, but I guess my biggest passion has to be art and community. And costuming!
I like to listen to: music that I can fuck to. A seriously deep, chunky bass in surround sound.
I like to watch: the inquisitive antics of horses. They're like gentle curious children learning about the world
I like to smell: the sweet tang of frying onion, particularly when it starts to caramelize. Mmm.
I like to taste: hibiscus flowers, have you ever tried one? They go all gooey & fluffy in your mouth.
I like to feel: the feather-light touch of fingertips brushed against skin…
favourite part of my body: Has always been my eyes, although I really like my belly too. I can stroke my belly, I can’t stroke my eyeballs. Also my boobs, I inherited a pretty good set. Thanks mum!
favourite part of someone else's body: Depends on the person, but I love the nape of necks, and the curvature of the side of a body.
Why i shot myself: I 'shot myself' to become more confident in owning and appreciating my body in all its beauty and imperfections, and because I love the arthouse way of being able and encouraged to do so.
who I'd least like to see shoot themselves: Maybe some celebrities who already have a big enough ego & paparazzi following who don’t need any more self-empowerment & photos of themselves.
who I'd most like to see shoot themselves: I’d like to see most women 'shoot themselves' (not taking that statement out of context) because of how much of a beautiful and self-empowering experience it is!
my website/fav website: Etsy for admiring the creativity and amazingness of other artists, even if as a stereotypical 'struggling artist' myself, I can't afford to buy anything, ha.
Most outrageous thing I have done: This question poses a challenge, because I have done a LOT of outrageous things in my life. Definitely bungee-jumping naked off Victoria Falls Bridge in Zimbabwe has to be up there though :P
Bands I like: Nicolas Jaar, Rhythmik, Meerkat, Jantango, DiceFX, Cat Party, Kalya Scintilla, Opiuo, Staunch, Whitebear, Bird of Prey, The Chief, Sunmonx, Alison Wonderland, Ani Difranco, should I stop?
Books I like: Sorry, did I just drool on your keyboard? I LOVE ALL BOOKS. A bookshelf full of spiritual, self-help, inspirational, existential, arty or thought-provoking books are my faves.
Films I like: ACE VENTURA! And I do love a good action movie and anything that questions our reality or the power/potential of the human mind like The Fifth Element, Inception, Matrix trilogy!

this artist also contributed to beautiful agony

ALI_A