Exposure XXI

“Exposure” is a black and white photography self-portrait project focused on the transformation of oneself, against the prejudices of the general society towards freedom of expression and to be who one really is without hiding before anything. The project begins with a naked person and ends with the same wrapped in latex, the naked reflects the facade towards society and the wrapped in latex the free expression. A bird is part of a symbol of the transition, it contributes with its wings to fly towards freedom.

We live in a society where everyone hides behind armor. We feel vulnerable and build a wall around us to not show who we really are. Sometimes, we come to a moment in our lives where we hit bottom, where we believe that nothing can go worse and where we feel immensely alone and unaccepted. A moment in our life where we feel isolated and sad. We crawl every day aimlessly as if a wave were carrying us behind its back and we don’t even realize that we move with our own feet. We wake up in the morning, follow a flow and go back to bed, repeating this one day after another. Suddenly, there comes a day in which we realize that we have already spent too much time. It is the moments in which we are at the deepest that give us the strength to make a change and take a step forward, either to drop the wall we have built between society and our most unarmed being or strengthen the foundations of that almost unsustainable fortification.

There are times when it is even harder to let go of our armor, because we feel that we have become even more vulnerable beings than we already were… at the same time that those same armors become a huge burden that we carry on our shoulders and that crushes us. We are crushed by fear. Ironically, that’s when we make our armor even more resistible and opaque. Sometimes, they even make disappear what (or who) we really are.

There is a universal law that could be expressed in these terms: the more complex a system is, the more vulnerable it is. They say being vulnerable will make you stronger. It seems a total contradiction, but it is not. All, without exception, we have shortcomings, weaknesses, fears and / or insecurities, and whoever denies it is wanting to believe an image of himself that is not very right, totally unreal. In the society in which we live, a “perfect showcase image” prevails, which has led us to a strange alley in which accepting a personal weakness is a sign of defeat, disappointment, or cause for mockery by the rest. Likewise, being different from the pre-established canon of what is called “normal” or commonly accepted also means an internal fight. It is impossible to change society suddenly, but we can do it within ourselves, modify those parameters and fly over that fictional landscape in which we always move with that armor that we have built. Only this way can we learn, join ties and become stronger thanks to who would say it, to our weak points or, rather, to the complex acceptance of them, of what makes us vulnerable. Only then can we find freedom and become, at least for us, the best version of oneself.

It’s about finding a balance. There is no one who has not been afraid of not rising to the challenge of a certain moment in his life or being rejected, we are very ashamed to recognize it because of the fear of being attacked. Sometimes, it is hard for us to accept it ourselves. Every so often, the perfect showcase image is also lived inwards.

The opposite of vulnerability is not strength, but hardness; including soul and emotions. If we harden not to feel pain, we also do it so as not to feel love and the kind part of life. Although society sells us the image of unbeatable, our way to happiness is to accept and embrace ourselves in the totality of who we are: Strong and vulnerable at the same time.

More information here.

Can I ask for my print to be framed?

If you wish, the art print can be framed at an additional cost that must be paid through PayPal. To do this, you must contact me by writing to info@jaquelinevanek.com. You can specify what type of frame you want or you can ask for my suggestions.

I will be happy to advise you based on the photograph you have chosen. If you buy the framed art print, it will be shipped flat, with a wooden support that protects the glass and wrapped in cardboard and bubble wrap. This will included in the additional cost.

If my purchase is a gift, can I request a dedication?

Of course you can! Please write to info@jaquelinevanek.com specifying the order number and the name of the person you want the note to be addressed to.

Packaging

Depending on the size, the prints are shipped rolled up in a tube or in a rigid envelope. In both cases, they are protected with onion paper and/or bubble wrap, some gloves are attached that I recommend using when handling the prints.

Shipping Time

Since I contract third parties for the production of the works (a printing company and a transport service) and all prints are produced on demand, I cannot establish a fixed time, but an approximate one. The approximate time for you to receive your order after sending it is 2-3 weeks under normal conditions depending on the shipping location (extraordinary conditions could be, for example, restrictions due to a storm, vacation periods, etc.).

It is very important to avoid direct contact with sunlight. If you exhibit the artwork in a room, it must be protected by glass or methacrylate with UV protection. The work should never be touched directly with the hands in order to avoid leaving traces of grease or moisture. I always recommend using cotton gloves.

If you want to frame it, the materials must be acid free as well as the passepartout. If the frame is made of wood and is in direct contact with the photo, it must be made of natural wood and without varnish. Adhesives should also be acid free. If not, any other adhesive could leave yellow marks and deteriorate the support.

Store the work in a cool, dry place preferably at a room temperature between 10º and 30º with a relative humidity between 49% and 60%. If you have acquired more than one photograph, they should never be touched between them since the surface is very sensitive. You should always put a tissue paper or, at least, another soft paper between the both of them.

For more information about my limited editions and the store please visit the following link.