Naked Faces
The impetus for this project stemmed from a question I've thought about for years. In short – What level of nonverbal facial expressions do we show without being conscious of them? I set out to prove the notion that people show more on their face than they are aware. This project is the pursuit of answers to these questions. In January 2016 I put out a call for people willing to be photographed naked, with the assurance that no nudity would be captured or released. Two photos were shot - one clothed, one nude. The purpose of this was to demonstrate the differing facial expressions between clothed and not, to physically capture evidence of the impact that something as simple as being naked can have on subtle facial expressions. The results were astounding. The differences were at times subtle, contrasting and ridiculous. Though the approach and reaction to the act of getting naked varied from laughing, yelling and making jokes that reaction rarely linked to the results captured. Men and women looking nervous, happier, silly all these emotions giving a fleeting glimpse into the inner workings of these subjects - via totally involuntary facial communication. As an artist, this series isn't one that is culminated with the answering of the question asked, rather, it has become an investigation that is ongoing. It has raised questions about gender stereotypes, the subconscious, and the way we change imperceptibly to ourselves and perceptibly to others.