The images that make up Skin by June Yong Lee, an artist and photographer based in California, are immediately perceived as gruesome. As though straight out of a horror film, they look like portraits of tortured individuals. Stretched skin and flattened torsos are captured in a way that conceals identifies but not much else.
A unique series, to say the very least, Skin by June Yong Lee is meant to capture something even more unique: a concept involving the idea that skin is a visual diary of a person's life. Although faces are excluded from the images, sagging breasts, tattoos, scars and more are identifiable. Lee notes, "Bodies record personal stories and suggest the ways that we remember. Skin, in particular, reflects who we are and tells stories that we might not always recognize."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Visual Storytelling
- Utilizing unconventional techniques to capture personal narratives through imagery.
- Body Positivity
- Challenging traditional beauty standards by showcasing the uniqueness and stories held within diverse bodies.
- Identity Exploration
- Using art to delve into the complex relationship between individual identity and physical appearance.
Where This Applies
- Art and Photography
- Exploring new ways to convey personal stories and emotions through visual mediums.
- Fashion and Beauty
- Promoting body acceptance and celebrating individuality through inclusive representations in advertising and media.
- Health and Wellness
- Encouraging a holistic approach to self-expression and self-acceptance that includes physical appearance and personal narratives.
