PERCEPTIONS
A study of the preconceptions we have about people, their sexuality and identity.
How do we see others? What assumptions to we make and what do we base them on? Their looks? Their name? Occupation? Gender? If you heard an intimate fact about a person, would you see them differently?
The Perceptions project asks you to face your own prejudices.
You enter an exhibition space and are faced a huge number of images:
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100 people, each an individual; hair, make-up and expression presented as they wish to appear.
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100 images of genitals, belonging to the 100 faces.
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100 signatures, each as individual as the faces and genitals.
Can you match these images up? Do you try to?
As you ponder the images you see that they are interspersed with facts and statistics that apply to the 100 people you are considering. Statistics about their attitudes and beliefs, lifestyle and experiences, intimate and banal.
Finally, you hear a name, spoken individually by the models themselves.
Do you feel you know these people, perhaps you do but can you match up all the things you’ve been given? If you knew which pictures matched up with the names and statistics would that affect your attitudes towards them?
It’s all about perceptions.
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What's involved...
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IMAGE 1
This is a standard 10x8’’ head and shoulders shot. Wear your hair and make-up as you normally would. If you normally wear glasses, please wear them for the picture. You will be posed in a style that you feel reflects your personality and shows the “real you”. You should wear whichever clothes you feel comfortable wearing or an outfit that you feel reflects the version of you that you prefer to present to the world.
These pictures will be exhibited individually.
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IMAGE 2
This is a 10x8’’ colour shot of your genital area. The pic will be taken straight on and will encompass the area from just below your navel (bellybutton) to mid-thigh. The image will then be cropped to centre your genitals in the frame. You do not have to undress fully for these shots; simply expose the area being photographed. You will be asked to stand with your feet shoulder-width apart for one shot and then feet together for the second (this is to allow the choice when finalising the exhibition).
These pictures will be exhibited individually.
IMAGE 3
This will be your standard signature on a white sheet of paper which will be scanned and resized to postcard size.
These will be exhibited individually.
NAME
You will be asked to say your name for recording. This is the name by which you are known. This can be a nickname only if that is how you are known by the majority of people who know you but you will also be asked to supply your full legal name for the record.
All names will be presented as an audio loop.
OCCUPATION
You will be asked your occupation. This is your main means of income (how you pay the bills). Please do not give as your occupation as what you aspire to be (actor, writer, singer, etc) unless this is your main job.
These will be exhibited on a list.
QUESTIONNAIRE
You will be asked to fill in a questionnaire. This can be done either on paper or online. Some of the questions will be quite personal so answering any question is optional. Most answers will be a simple yes or no or a multiple choice. Please be as honest as possible when answering the questions. Your name will not be attached in any way to the questionnaire to preserve your anonymity.
The compiled answers from all the questionnaires will be presented as individual anonymous statistics.
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I'm particularly looking for some male models for this project.
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If you'd like to get involved and model for this project, please get in touch
