from
editor
& NUDITY
In this issue, one artist’s work was censored
because it depicts women’s nude breasts. I
understand that not everyone is comfortable with
nudity and so we opted for censorship. In fact,
the magazine once published a beautiful abstract
piece that depicted a nude woman’s figure and
were surprised how many people reached out
to voice their discomfort. Who voiced concern?
Women. No men - just women.
So what is it about the female body that
makes it political, uncomfortable, and unfamiliar
to us? What I love about the magazine is that
we have female artists from a variety of cultures,
religions (and non-religious affiliations) whose
beautiful art fills the magazine. We live under
different social constructs, we apply our own
societal and religious filters to how we view the
world, art, our own bodies, and the bodies of
others. But, it seems overwhelming that women’s
bodies are policed and politicized throughout
most cultures.
I’m not here to change anyone’s mind about
what kind of art they love or accept. Women’s
breasts painted by a contemporary artist versus
the nudes painted by Picasso, Degas, or Botticelli
are under a different type of scrutiny, I believe.
This issue features Australian artist Aurora
Campbell whose nude female paintings, which
I feel are empowering and beautiful. Personally,
I love the perfectly imperfect bodies she paints.
Asymmetric breasts, bodies of ours that have
birthed, fed children, aged, survived or currently
battle cancer - It tells stories of love, time, hate,
hardship, survival, loss …
Bodies tell a story and so does the art that is
created and inspired by it.
Our bodies are political.
Our choices are political.
But even if Aurora’s work is too sexual or
crosses your line for acceptable artwork, I’d like
you to think about why you feel that way. It’s
worth exploring why we, as women, are among
the most critical of female bodies in public and
private space.
Keep creating.
Keep inspiring those around you.
LMarelli
Liesl Marelli
Editor-in-Chief
ART
Nudity in art, or rather the nude female body
in art, is a sensitive subject to broach. A man’s
nude chest invokes practically no reaction but
then do the same with a woman and you find
yourself at a political intersection.
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ART
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