PATRICIA SCHWARZ
" In Western societies in particular, there is a high value placed on women's slenderness and youth. Large women are mostly “invisible” and “untouchable” members of a sub-culture. As a result, weight and size are very emotional issues for most people; and there are many misconceptions about the identities of fat women.
I am interested in creating a new visual language that includes images of people who are not routinely considered (by many societies) as beautiful. I want my new visual language to show large-sized women as proud, gentle, powerful, sensual, vital people and to show them in an aesthetic and respectful way. I am influenced by the works of Renoir, Ruben's, Botero, Lachaise, Matisse, Maillol, and Henry Moore.
My work is a series of portraits and nude studies of large-size women. My photographs are meant to be an invitation (to the viewer) to look, and to familiarize themselves with these fat people. To know them as individuals and see their confidence, integrity, beauty and sensuality.
I hope that my photographs will show people a new and different way of looking at and feeling about large people and ultimately, themselves. My photographs are made as a reaction to the demeaning and negative images of large women and men I have seen in the media.
My images of large women are a reflection of my heart. Let me introduce myself. My name is Patricia Schwarz; and I am a proud, strong , funny, serious, loving, sensual, beautiful, intelligent, large woman."
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- Patricia Schwarz ,1996