Reinventing the Vitruvian Image

I love this project from start to finish. I took these photographs at a a now defunct "quartel" gymnasium of the GNR - Guarda Nacional Republicana in Lisbon, Portugal in December 2021. It was poignant to capture these images in this former military space that was once part of the notorious symbol of political tyranny of the country's dictator, Salazar. Initially, I was taking a series of portraits regarding another project on womanhood, when I was drawn by the light flooding through the gym's windows. The light in Lisbon is magical and the late afternoon sunshine came through this space in golden waves. I immediately thought of Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man the first time one of my models posed in the window. And I thought, "Yes, lets reinvent the image not regarding perfection, specifically the perfect male, but let's show a multi-dimensional feminine perfective." Using my preferred printing method acrylic lift process, allowed me a lot of creative freedom with the final result of the prints. When I mounted the images onto the wooden backing, I pressed and teased the damp prints to breath life into the image by nudging lines and edges. Each print is unique in it's creation and execution. I photographed the prints within their wooden frames to add to the nuances of movement and "aliveness." I love the grains and knots. There is such a beauty and truth in nature showing us that life is malleable and more forgiving than our tendency to value relentless perfection.