Project_ISM - erotic art & public nudity

LESLIE_A

ARTISTS STATEMENT

At first it was odd being so present in my external self, without other people there to give passive or active feedback to my shape and movements. I'm not used to being naked and focusing on the visual of my body, rather I'd focus on my other senses, particularly touch. So it was a grounding and empowering experience to control the gaze of how my body is looked at; to take selfies that tugged at ideas around that. Seeing the expressions on my face as my mind went adrift and my mood wandered to lovely places, was an illuminating experience. It's given me a lot to think about and presented a real opportunity for growth - before the shoot I would have called myself confident in my body, after a long period of hard work learning to embrace my body in all its limitations it has yet impact it can make - yet I still left this realising that there are some parts of me that I don't see (figuratively and literally ha!), aspects of myself I forget to hype up as much as they deserve. So I appreciate seeing them and having my attention drawn to how my body can be wonderful in many more ways than is initially present. My previous experiences with being comfortable with nudity most notably started when I had a phase of going to lots of festivals where clothes were quite optional, that was a really great way of becoming comfortable with humans in their natural form. Later on, as I've been more engaged with the polyamory and kink communities, the body and sex positivity of the people I would have the fortune being around led to talking about our bodies in a way that is much more relaxed, free and natural, in way that wasn't just ignoring what isn't conventional about the body I live in but appreciating it being there for me in every way, and empowering it in how I want to in that moment.

Media index

Leslie_A 'running_late'
06 Jul 22
Photos
ZIP - 41 images

ARTIST PROFILE

birthplace: Victoria, Australia
occupation: Artist
age: 29
height: 165cm
relationship status: Polyamourous
starsign: Aquarius
biggest passion in my life: Cultivating communities through shared experiences and helping people find their creative spirit. At the minute, I'm super into cross stitching pixel art, attempting to learn how to sew leather, and making the perfect pasta sauce
I like to listen to: Wild storms when I'm cosy and warm under three blankets, and waking up to wildlife calls
I like to watch: I enjoy watching lazy waves on a west facing beach during sunset, and seeing my art transform slowly from nothing to something
I like to smell: I love the smell of my cat's fur when she allows me to kiss her forehead, and the scent of freshly fried hot chips
I like to taste: A salty breeze, and freshly picked strawberries still warm from the sun
I like to feel: Rich textured velvet against my skin, and when people rub my head hair when I shave it very short
favourite part of my body: My thighs, they're so fun to hold and are so good at doing things!
favourite part of someone else's body: If I had to choose in isolation to anything else (I find it hard to think of people like that!) is their lower back. No matter the person's size or shape, when I intimately embrace them that place is always the perfect shape for my hands
Why i shot myself: I participated in "I shot myself" to explore myself from a new perspective and as an excuse for myself to find out if I can still use my feet as a pillow (which I sadly concluded I cannot anymore, time to stretch more again!)
who I'd least like to see shoot themselves: I'd least like to see anyone… who didn't want to? Everyone deserves an opportunity for this kind of self-expression if that's what they want to do - even if I've personally had a bad history with them or not my attraction preferences, I wouldn't want to stop them for themselves and whoever else would appreciate it! :)
who I'd most like to see shoot themselves: I feel anyone who believes this is a great way to express and learn about themselves! I can't really answer that for anybody, so I'll leave it up to them!
Most outrageous thing I have done: Is when I used to explore stormwater drains, it was a really fun way to keep cool during summer!
Bands I like: Favourite music artists in general would become an essay length answer! Highlights recently though: Garbage, Alison Wonderland, Allday, Beach Bunny and Bring Me The Horizon
Books I like: More Than Two by Eve Rickert and Franklin Veaux, Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe, The Art Of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Films I like: The Room (the cursed cult classic, in the bad-good ironic way), Matilda, Euphoria, Cleverman

LESLIE_A