Hikaru Cho - My Body My Rights

This work by Hikaru Cho is part of an Amnesty International Campaign called 'My Body, My Rights,' which is a really interesting campaign encouraging people to know their rights and take back control over their body. This is very coincidental that this is basically hat my project is about! The artist creates all effects using makeup and face paint and they are really incredible.

In this one the woman is cracking an egg like doll face to reveal herself underneath. I think the artist is trying to show how woman are often seen as objects, who can be passed around and are uncapable of acting themselves and like dolls, can only be acted upon. This idea can be seen in many different strengths through all societies, from extremes such as rape and forced marriages, to the other end of the spectrum of sexual objectification of the female form. All of these things are part of the same imposed social order that places women below men with less control over their bodies. As a campaign I think this image is effective as the cracked pieces are striking because they are realistic. It also works well because the doll skin colour looks creepily plastic compared to her real tone below, and this must make people think about the effect of wearing make up has on women. Everyday using a substance to cover all the parts of you that society (a male dominated society) has deemed unbeautiful. 

I think this is my favourite though as I think it reads really well as it is such a simple idea. A woman stands holding a key to the lock on her body, simply showing a woman should be the only one to control her body. The placement of the lock is important as it is over where a baby would lie in the gestation period, therefore calling for prochoice in the abortion debate. However it could be more widely interpreted that the whole of a woman's body is hers to reveal herself or not, but it is her choice. 

The right for contraception for women is another important issue, as women ultimately bear the consequences of unprotected sex and it should be her choice as to whether she has a child or not. Cho has represented this basic right by showing the pill as an integral part of her being. Contraceptives should be a natural part of every woman's life if that is her choice. The illusion of the cut is so expertly done, it really is hard to discern her arm.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/hikaru-cho-paints-models-for-amnesty-internationals-my-body-my-rights-campaign-9173594.html