On July 17th, outside the Republican National Convention ( RNC) in Cleveland, Ohio there was more than just your usual protesting going on. This time it included 100 naked women having a photo shoot the day before the convention began. Photographer Spencer Tunick recruited 100 women out of the 1800 that applied to be featured in his completely nude shoot titled, ” Everything She Says Means Everything.” The peaceful protest was against Donald Trump and the Republican Party for their discriminating views of women and minorities. All of the women held large round mirrors above their faces as they stood in a cluster. Tunick states, “The mirrors communicate that we are a reflection of ourselves, each other, and of, the world that surrounds us. The woman becomes the future and the future becomes the woman.” Democrats, Republicans as well as other political parties were represented in the shoot by women of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds. In the statements as to why the women volunteered to be included in the installation many had their own reasons like being a representation of self-love, overcoming sexual abuse and standing in solidarity for a cause.
“As a woman, I want to stand up for my reproductive rights. As a Hispanic, I want to be seen as a member of this community. As a first-generation American, I want to show that anyone deserves the opportunity to come here. As a young woman, I want to embrace my body and everyone else’s size and shape. As a human being, I want to stand up against Trump and other Republicans whose hateful speech towards women, immigrants, lgbt people, and all “others” is poisoning this nation. Being a participant in Spencer’s installation allows women to be the medium, rather than the object. We are so often objectified in our society, being told our self worth is directly related to our appearance. The mirrors reflect the viewer and environment, a message of connection and statement of empowerment.” – Women’s Statement, Spencertunickcleveland.com
This isn’t the first time that Spencer Tunick has staged a massive nudity project before. He has been orchestrating these projects since 1994. Tunick told Esquire magazine, that he has been planning this installation in particular since 2013. Spencer Tunick describes the women as “art warriors” and they surely are. You can follow the #EverythingSheSaysMeansSomething movement on social media.
Check out the behind the scenes video of the Everything She Says Means Something project. Please be advised there is explicit content.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQhjVoUaGEM&oref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOQhjVoUaGEM&has_verified=1
Photos: Courtesy of TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images and Spencer Tunick.
