Artwork description:

Portrait of Xristina Prompona from my self-published book- "I Think It's Time To Take The Clothes Off"

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I Think It's Time To Take The Clothes Off (2020)

“You should wear a bra. It’s more polite.” the lady behind the underwear stand said to me while I was browsing. It was an early morning a few years ago. I went to the local market with my mum, which is one of my favourite things to do when I am back home in Taichung, Taiwan.

Coming from Asia, which is relatively conservative about our bodies compared to Western culture, wearing bras is one of the unspoken social customs to follow otherwise you may be seen as promiscuous because you are exposing your body.

The feeling of shame about our bodies of course isn’t limited to my culture.

Taking the clothes off is a way of saying it’s time to put aside unrealistic expectations and also to celebrate self awareness of one’s body through movement and feeling comfortable within your own body.

“I think it’s time to take the clothes off.” Is what I said to Akti and Xristina, best friends and both dancers, when I photographed them on separate occasions.

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