Anti-double-chin bandages, smile trainers, face slimmers; how far will we go in the name of beauty? Inverness based artist Evija Laivina questions the virtual world's obsession with perfection, through her use of unusual beauty products that she has found online. Her photography project Beauty Warriors featured friends and family posing for renaissance style portraits, while wearing strange and absurd plastic contraptions. The result is both shocking and humorous, and highlights how ridiculous society’s standards are of beauty. The project received LensCulture Portrait Awards 2017 Student Spotlight Award and has been nominated for Henry Nannen Award 2019 in the staged photography category.
Much of her current work is sculptural, which she believes needs to be experienced in person. The pandemic has therefore made her think about the gallery experience and people’s interaction with art. Show less