Throughout prejudice and injustices our bodies and identity what makes us whole has changed for many of us. I have found that learning to love and respect ourselves is not an easy journey, especially as some of us face threat every day. As we ease out of lockdown and come out of what seemed like a trial of loneliness, for many of us it was an opportunity to explore our thoughts and manifestations of what REALLY makes us happy and how we express these thoughts and motions within our arts. I have found it incredibly liberating to see the diversity and inclusion when it comes to creatives and activists within Instagram but the sheer positive affirmation through empowerment and community. Nevertheless, activism of our own bodies and selves should never fall under the impression of challenging for others peoples biases, instead it should be loud and intent to break the barriers.
It has come to my attention we really enjoy finding ourselves but also exploring ourselves and our bodies, appreciating this sort of mindfulness and survival and respecting so much and every part of ourselves. So many artists are putting this essence and power within the work, so here are my top five creatives and pieces that continue to challenge the binary within sexual exploration and identity.
Nelson Moralez
Nelson Morales is a Muxe* artist from Mexico who works with diverse communities within Mexico. Their work is extremely raw and stunning, and shows the strength of the beauty in womxn and challenges the gender binary as something that is powerful but also a huge part of the Zapotec culture communities lives and identity.
*In Zapotec cultures of Oaxaca, a muxe is a person assigned male at birth who dresses and behaves in ways otherwise associated with women; they may be seen as a third gender.
Kennedy Carter
Kennedy Carter’s visuals and photography captures not only sociopolitical aspects but the beauty that is within each portrait and self. Focusing on blackness and black womxn, her series The Soloist highlights the love and confidence within her work. “I just take pictures” is just an essence of what she is embodying through her work.
Sara Hini
Sara Hini is a Montreal based artist and a proud co-founder of The Womanhood project. Her work and projects focus on sex education, vulnerability and intimacy. Empowering all bodies, Sara’s work and art direction takes us on a journey of not acceptance, but of mindfulness and challenging the status quo. After all if you do not ‘accept’ all bodies, then what is there to discuss?
Halimah
Halimah is an artist and creator in all forms. An illustrator that delves into the outlines and shapes that make her work sleek and caressing. The lines shaping curves of the body and face highlights the simplicity of the human form, how we all find beauty in the everyday things. Her work is up for sale on etsy also check out her podcast!
I really encourage everyone to follow and look at these artists work, challenging and appreciating ALL bodies and identities.
