binding photography

I created these images to explore the notion of being bound and disabled by our sex. We are essentially weakened by being born female in terms of feminist theories. We are objectified frequently, both sexually and otherwise. And also we are seen as the lesser sex by men. The images are intentionally made in a way that references sadomasochism and the way in which we can be seen as sexual tools for men. 

The work features myself as the subject both as a means to help me relate and engage with the topic but also as a way of exploring the psychological effects of being bond. This may help my creative development during the process of making etc.

I have made my hands black and white to symbolise the implied unimportance of women, the way in which as a sex we are struggling even in contemporary modern society to dominate. The red binds dominate the image in order to contrast with the females lesser significance and also to evoke some other connotations and responses in a viewer such as a sense of danger, sex or temptation. A sense of danger is obviously played with when a person allows themselves to be bound as part of a sexual act,  but also in any case weakens the person bound making them vulnerable. So these pieces explore the concept of vulnerability also.