Twin Bodies - Consequence

Recently I have spent a lot of time thinking about my opinions of societal norms. More specifically, whether those norms are what make us feel inadequate or whether it is our own doing. While doing some research on anorexia, bulimia and obesity, I learned that it is I, who makes the choice, not society. And although society still contributes to the occurrence of these illnesses, the blame lies with me; the sufferer.

During my school years, I really believed it was the media’s fault, and I felt inadequate within myself, based on my weight and my looks. This is no longer my thinking.

While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food and weight, they are often much more complicated. People with eating disorders often use food and the control of food consumption (or lack thereof) in an attempt to compensate for feelings and emotions that they may otherwise find over-whelming or difficult to deal with.

To begin with I wanted this art work to display beauty in an unconventional way, but as the project developed I lost sight of what I was trying to achieve and discovered something much deeper.

Women have battled with eating disorders for centuries, the effects of such lifestyles are much more long term then people may realize. Not only do these disorders increase a person’s risk of heart disease, cholesterol, bone and muscular degeneration, but, first and foremost, they decrease a woman’s fertility. Thus she looses the very thing which makes her a woman.

I believe I have created something beautiful through which the distasteful or disturbing nature of these disorders can be seen. Using specific techniques I have described the degraded and helpless demeanor, and physical appearance, of two people.

The techniques and materials involved in this installment have a symbolic nature.
The Burning, scarring or hurting of the wood symbolizes the unintentional self mutilation involved in suffering from one of these diseases. The rusted rods holding the blocks together, as well as the rusted lintel symbolize the corrosion or deterioration which happens within the body.
The hunched position of the figures shows the helplessness felt by these individuals and the separation of the elements of each image shows the incompleteness of the self.