Home bodies
In August 2020, I started on a week-long hobby project called Home Bodies during the pandemic shutdown. I wanted to revisit figure drawing after my session in Montmartre, Paris. Since we were all confined to our homes, I figured I could revisit the experiment through Tinder. I connected with volunteers who were willing to share their nude or semi-nude photos, which I then translated into illustrations.
Method
1. I created a Tinder account and include all genders within 100 miles.
2. Swipe! Swipe! Swipe! I swiped right on everyone for 5 minutes and waited for trade inquires.
3. I closed the project after selecting 12 participants.
4. I made it clear that their identity and photos would be kept safe.
5. I exchanged photos with the participant (photo for illustration).
Final thoughts
Contrary to my low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by my experiences. Initially, I anticipated uncomfortable messages. However, I was amazed by the wonderful individuals I interacted with. Engaging with them allowed me to witness their vulnerability and trust. It was amazing to observe people embracing their bodies and expressing mutual appreciation for one another. Finally, it was something novel while we were all stuck at home.