Bodies and Souls
SA02S Softcover - Bodies and Souls
Frank Cordelle photographs naked women. You don't know its unique importance until you see it. This is the photographer's own description: “It is a series of nude photographic portraits of female subjects from the moment of birth through a hundred years of age. Many of the photographs are accompanied by statements written by the participants themselves. These are often highly personal and intensely moving. The combination of words and pictures has proved to be very powerful, based on all responses to date.” The combination does make strong statements about real women and their real lives. These are not advertising models or movie stars, but women of every age, shape, size, character, and experience, and of diverse races. The women photographed find themselves accepting the imperfections in their bodies, sharing their laughter or pain. Century frees them from striving after the impossible body perfection imposed on them by our culture. Their nudity ends up destroying stereotypes of women. It forces us to confront much of what women really are.
On seeing Century, some women contemplating breast augmentation have suddenly rejected it. Abused women have felt able for the first time to talk about their issues. Older women have accepted their radiant selves. Century is about healing; the nudity represents both vulnerability and strength.
Your work told me something that I must have already known and buried deep inside. I am, I believe, a step closer to no longer hating my body. I thank God for that and you. Your sensitivity is so evident. I pray that God blesses you. Thank you.
- from another woman on seeing The Century Project in 2000
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