Noel Zheng: Domestic

Noel_Zheng_photography_student_upenn_Tony_Ward_Studio_photography_still_life_fashion_domestic_feminism_equality_makeup_beauty_jewelry_rings_kitchen_cleaning_whiteboard_paint_pop_

 

Photography, Text and Video Interview by Noel Zheng, Copyright 2017

.

#DOMESTIC

.

It’s so easy for us now to just think that our lives are more important than that of others when in reality, doing so is such a monumental act of ego. Who do you really think you are?

.

Noel_Zheng_photography_student_upenn_braziere_Tony_Ward_Studio_flash_photography_still_life_fashion_domestic_feminism_equality_makeup_beauty_woman_bra_lingerie_underwear_surgery_syringe_

.

In a midst of a life full of self-obsession; in a life where we all seek self-validation—and are no doubt given it through means of the media, paper-thin companions and, surprise surprise, self-ego—we forget that we are not the centre of the universe. Everybody has problems. Wake up.

.

Noel_Zheng_photography_student_upenn_Tony_Ward_Studio_flash_photography_still_life_fashion_domestic_feminism_equality_makeup_burger_junk_food_beauty_pop_art

.

(I feel like in this point in this narrative, I need to qualify that self-confidence is different; possibly the antipodal in social definition of all that I have victimized just now. Self- confidence is healthy, because it is both valuing yourself and others in an equal plane.)

.

Noel_Zheng_photography_student_upenn_Tony_Ward_Studio_Jasmine_Clark_flash_photography_still_life_fashion_domestic_feminism_equality_makeup_beauty_food_ice_cream_cone_pop_art

.

In this shoot, I aim to target this very line of egotistical reasoning by pinpointing possibly the most baseline movement in history: the equality of the sexes. This is not to undermine any other social activism regarding the equality of sexuality, race or politics, but quite the contrary; it is indeed to propel and support these movements further, as the idea behind this shoot can, and should, be applied to all social, cultural and economic activist movements.

.

Noel_Zheng_photography_student_upenn_Tony_Ward_Studo_photography_still_life_fashion_domestic_feminism_equality_makeup_beauty_high_heel_shoes_boots_legs_kitchen_grocery_shopping_fruit_balenciaga

.

I have named this shoot “#DOMESTIC” (not domestic). The idea of domestication—of the domesticated wife, the woman who must look elegant and be elegant in any and every scenario, the Mrs. who will has dinner ready for the husband when he returns home from work—is criticized in these paradoxical images. The play on “you are what you eat” and “the woman in the kitchen” are combined to produce snapshot-like polaroids of the expectations on women.

.

Noel_Zheng_photography_student_upenn_Tony_Ward_Studio_flash_photography_still_life_fashion_domestic_feminism_equality_makeup_beauty_hand_jewelry_rings_kitchen_utensil_fork_lipstick_pop_art

But be careful: do not doubt for a second that these images define perfection, they only seem beautiful.

.

Noel_Zheng_photography_student_Upenn_Tony_Ward_Studio_jasmine_clark_flash_photography_still_life_fashion_domestic_feminism_equality_makeup_lipstick_condom_oral_sex_pop_art

.

“DOMESTIC”-by Noel Zheng

.

.

 About The Author: Noel Zheng is a freshmen enrolled in the College of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2020. To access additional articles by Noel Zheng, go here: https://tonywardstudio.com/blog/noel-zhang-coup-de-grace-belgravia/

 

 

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *