Concept
Skin Deep is a series of collaborative self-portraits that treat the body as a canvas for 3D drawing. It is an exploration of a new form of collaborative drawing where the audience is invited to take part in the intimate process of creating the artists’ self-portrait.
The artists are 3D-scanned, producing a mesh of their bodies and texture maps of their skin from all angles. Participants are invited to color the textures on paper which are then reassembled back to the 3D model, creating a final portrait which is defined by both the observer and the artists.
Skin deep is exploring the core value of oneself after peeling away layers of consciousness and revealing vulnerability, and how this transformation provides a new way of seeing.
Process
We generated a 3D scan of our bodies that includes these two aspects: the mesh (form) and the texture (the skin). The mesh doesn’t change, but we can draw on the texture and project it back to our mesh.
We listened to each others’ past memories while coloring the other person’s textures, and realized that as the stories go deeper, the relationship between skin, body and the vulnerable, hidden self underneath starts to surface. This piece opened a door for us into a new form of art making, and we hope that it can sway viewers to value their tenderness and truly accept who they really are.
Body Mesh
Skin Texture
Pre-rendered:
Interactive:
Space Setup
