By Julian Lucas

Can you imagine yourself sitting in the nude with someone staring at you for hours? If you consider a Life Drawing class, the average time a model poses is at least 3 hours with 5-10 minute poses. This would mean you are constantly moving around attempting to help art students achieve a certain goal by staring at each puzzling sequence of lines, curves, and shapes. Nudity may be sexualized for many, but for a nude art model, the idea of being undressed is just a part of the job.

The nude body has intrigued artists of all cultures since ancient times. As illustrated by works from ancient cultures, especially the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, sculptors, painters, and illustrators competed to celebrate and portray the body in its original form. On the carved walls of caves and prehistoric sculptures, primitive depictions of the nude human body can also be found. The guardians of our morality have ensured that the art form enables amateurs to comprehend human anatomy and the play of shadow and light.

Hippolyte Bayard made it possible to create photographs in 1839. He photographed a self-portrait a year later, entitled The Drowning, taken in 1840, making him the first to take a photograph of his own nude body.

© Self-Portrait as a Drowned Man, Hippolyte Bayard 1840

Pictorialism represented a crucial role in the development of photography between 1890 and 1914: the birth of this activism was born from the word picture with the idea of introducing photography to the visual arts. The development of new, smaller, and simplified cameras around 1880 put the scope of conditions by Daguerre within the reach of a large audience of amateurs.

"A self-taught photographer from rural Ohio, Clarence H. White (1871-1925) first became famous for his delicate, idealized images of rural family life. A charter member of the Photo-Secession in 1902, he was a frequent contributor to Camera Work and, after 1906, when he moved to New York, a member of Alfred Stieglitz's inner circle. Source

Torso, 1907 © Clarence H. White and Alfred Stieglitz

Radical changes in societal attitudes were seen in the first decades of the twentieth century. The reasons for that are diverse. Medical breakthroughs, WWI, fashion and dance evolution, illustrated magazine expansion and advertising... The combination of these developments in technology and culture has helped photographers to think differently about their approach to the human body.

Taboos and controversy
The photographic medium is somewhat different to other art forms in terms of its realistic approach and it really did change the landscape of nudity in art. When the camera became affordable for the masses around 1900 new ideas were allowed to take shape. Proving that the camera is an excellent tool for documenting society some photographers turned their lenses on people’s most private moments, forcing taboos into daylight to provoke discussion. Nan Goldin and Sally Mann are two photographers that developed an intimate language with photography that was never seen before. Nan Goldin’s snapshots draw attention to the shadows of the western drug and sex culture, and the abusive relationships (sometimes her own) that follow. Sally Mann’s personal photography created controversy in other ways by portraying moments of her children growing up with an unsettling intimacy.

- Elisabeth Hoiberg

THE PRESENT-DAY
Fast forward to today, photographing the nude has taken on many different aspects. Instead of the art model being seen as a subject or study art models have become just as important as the photographer. This shift most likely began because of the internet era around the early 2000s. Online platforms made accessibility very easy to connect amateur models and photographers to connect to create photographic imagery. Online platforms and marketing also transformed the “amateur model”, into the full-time art model who is paid to travel around the world to pose for artistic and commercial photographers as well as conventional artists.

Kira, better known as Floofie has been posing nude and modeling for almost two decades. She began her modeling career at 19 years of age while attending college. She has traveled all over the US and has traveled to many countries working for various photographers as well as artists.

Did you begin posing nude at the start of your modeling career? What influenced you to model nude?

I didn’t pose nude at first, I was nervous and knew that was a decision there was no turning back on. But I come from a family where nudity was not considered taboo and was in school for art. I remember asking the forums on ModelMayhem if I should model nude - naturally, they said YES! So around two years later, I decided to drop the proverbial robe and pose nude. I haven’t thought twice about it since that day!

Do you remember your first nude shoot? What was it like? Meaning your feelings thoughts what was going through your mind? Did you feel awkward?

I remember it as clearly as yesterday; the photographer and I walked out to a Sauvie Island beach where I posed near a makeshift beach hut. It was a perfectly warm day, and although I had demanded that the entire shoot be “implied nudity” only, I remember feeling so comfortable in my skin that I knew I had taken the right step. Posing nude for me is no different from posing clothed.

Courtesy of Floofie, Dave Aharonian, Vancouver, BC.

Did you start modeling posing in art classes or did you begin with photographers? Which do you like more being in a classroom or in a more intimate setting?

I started as a photographer’s model on model mayhem after getting started with a friend I met on MySpace. I really enjoy the dynamic aspect of photo modeling since I’m an active person who loves to express emotion visually. I love the one-on-one collaboration, especially being an introvert. However, there is also something really special about playing muse to a room full of artists! So it’s hard for me to choose.

When did you begin noticing that you could model full time? Was there ever a time you did TFP (Trade for Prints)?

As a model, I “did my time,” spending two years doing almost entirely TFP work in order to gain experience and a strong portfolio. As soon as I began to pose nude and make money, I realized this could be at least a part-time job. Then, when I graduated college I realized there were other models traveling the world doing this, and I happily joined their ranks around 2008.

Would you consider yourself a feminist? What has been your response to being shamed for posing nude? Has any conservative women who also considered themselves feminist ever shamed you for posing nude? What wave of feminism would you say you may be conflicted with?

Yes, I would consider myself an intersectional feminist. I minored in women’s studies, and honestly, it seems like the word “feminist” is even more fraught these days, in some ways. I have a hard time identifying with first and second-wave feminism even though I studied it. Any type of feminism that doesn’t include the struggles of race and class is not for me. Even other leftists sometimes think white feminists like me are all washed up, racist, or outdated. My response to being shamed for anything is typically to roll my eyes and ignore it. I don’t care to engage with people who might tear me down. I have strong convictions when it comes to art, and I don’t worry about preconceived morality. Luckily it hasn’t happened often directly to me.

Courtesy of Floofie, David K., Salt Flats, UT

Can you share some of your favorite countries and cities within the states you have traveled abroad as an art model?

My favorite cities are:
Lyon, France - for its food, architecture/history, natural beauty and friendliness
Bruges, Belgium - for its history, architecture, and magic
Tokyo, Japan - For its amazing variety of experiences, delicious food, and just everything
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - For its friendliness, cultural melting pot, and food.
Edinburgh, Scotland - For its architecture, friendliness, natural beauty.
San Diego, CA - For its natural beauty, chill vibe, weather, and food.
Vancouver, BC - For its friendliness, natural beauty, and cultural melting pot.
New Orleans - For its culture, food, natural beauty, architecture and history.

Would you say consider the modeling world inclusive to women of color? How many photographers besides me have you modeled for that were Black? Would you consider the nude photography world inclusive?

There is no industry that racism hasn’t touched. Something as wrapped up in hierarchical aesthetics as model photography? You can bet your ass it’s not inclusive. My BIPOC colleagues are often asked to pose for lower rates, get snubbed for white models, and are more often asked to do fetishizing or objectifying work. In my over fifteen years of modeling, I have probably only worked with around twenty Black photographers, and they were all men.

Being that you have travelled all over the globe, have you experienced any form of discrimination by photographers or other models while touring to different regions of the world?

As a slender white, feminine model, I haven’t really encountered much discrimination at all. I haven’t tried to model nude in Japan, yet!!! I wonder how it would go. I also haven’t been anywhere in central or South America.

Courtesy of Floofie, Harold Davis, Paris, FR

Has there been an artist/photographer that crossed the line of becoming disrespectful? How did you handle that situation?

That line has been crossed memorably three times. I never handled it very well, but each time I was firm with my words, saying “no” and moving away when the person tried to reach for me. Since then, I have decided that always having a safe escape route is key. Asking for references helps too!

What would you say to someone regardless of gender that would like to get into the art modeling world?

The best advice I can give is that modeling won’t make you more confident. It will expose every flaw and insecurity and if you don’t work on your self-love before starting up nude modeling, you will end up even more insecure than before. Also, always check references!!!

References
https://www.alamy.com/blog/evolution-of-nude-photography

Julian Lucas, is a fine art photographer, photojournalist, and creative strategist. Julian also works as a housing specialist which, includes linking homeless veterans to housing. Julian has lived in Chicago, Inglewood, Portland, and the suburbs of Los Angeles County including Pomona.