The Art of the Body

Our bodies provide us with the basics – health, thought, and the physicality of being. We allow ourselves to survive by thinking about what to eat, when to sleep, and what tasks we need to accomplish to feel accepted within society. However, artists utilize their bodies in the most beautiful way: to make art. Historically, bodies have been covered up out of respect, in fear of promiscuity. Despite this, nudity was nonetheless used in art to represent objectivity. Over the span of several decades, the art community changed this perspective, presenting the beauty in bodies through various forms of creative work. Rather than shaming, artists encourage the welcoming of bodies within art while using the human form as a medium for expression.

In history, many profound artists created work entailing women in the nude. Looking at these artworks today, we analyze, acknowledge, and learn from the story behind them. A common theme of classical art is the objectification of women, primarily through the male gaze (Burk, n.d.). A well-known pose in many of these works is titled “Venus Pudica,” in which a naked woman is seen sitting or standing with one hand covering an area of the body (Burk, n.d.). This pose emphasizes the area being covered, seizing the audience’s gaze. These artworks utilize female-oriented themes, including fertility, morality, beauty, and virtue, apprehending gender norms. Surprisingly, the body in ancient Greece is celebrated with particular attention on the male body, viewed as the human ideal (Burk, n.d.). These bodies are muscular, toned, and commemorated for triumph and glory. Yet, in almost every other area of the world, the naked body is associated with dishonor and shame.

Time evolved, art developed, and meanings behind the body progressed. Art performance has become a sensation in all communities, expressed through canvas, dance, and even fashion. Women have been able to take back power over their bodies in many ways, claiming their reproductive rights, sexuality, and position in society. Many artists have managed to cause catalytic social changes through fashion performances of art.

Leigh Bowery, a memorable performance artist, is known for dressing in a sartorial and aesthetic design, employing provocative and avant-garde themes and walking them down the street (Rooney, n.d.). He shocked communities, which was exactly the point – to disrupt social order. Bowery employed his own body to influence hundreds of communities, all while impacting social and popular culture.

Alexander McQueen, a renowned fashion designer, made dazzling productions through his designs, leaving the audience in awe. One of his most notable works was a show in 1999 influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement via technology (Bateman, 2016). Styled in a white dress, Shalom Harlow was the center of attention on the runway (Bateman, 2016). Harlow rotated on a wooden platform while two industrial robots spray painted her virginal dress yellow and black. In this performance, McQueen utilized Harlow’s delicate, ballerina-like frame to create dramatic scenery while the audience sat in wonder. The robots, structures of foreign specimens, only served to make the body an even more majestic formation.

Bodies are diverse and beautiful forms. As humans, we have our own will and control, choosing to present our bodies through different performances. Through fashion, artists take pride in utilizing fabric and design to showcase artwork through clothing and its intricate interactions with the body. Even when nude, women have shown skin in the most empowering of ways, expressing personality, confidence, and overall beauty without objectification.