Beauty standards have long promoted the ‘ideal’ nose through contouring and surgery. Many opt for that same look (evident enough on social media). If it brings people comfort, it is okay. However, this exhibition celebrates the “imperfections”: texture, pores, asymmetry - what distinguishes us. This exhibit shares stories about insecurities, family heritage, and self-acceptance - a close-up of one minor facial feature that carries much weight.
The process
When I asked Giulia to model, she responded: “I would love to! But I don't have a good face or nose...I always had trouble with noses.” This inspired me to add a backstory to each nose, similar to what you find in museum audio guides. Suddenly, people aren’t just observing noses; they are meeting the people behind them.
Federico, Tya, Giulia, Ravi, Rose - five amazing individuals who brought this project to life. I admire their willingness to open up about family resemblance, childhood incidents, insecurities, and heritage. Thank you for trusting me and others by sharing your stories.
It's completely fine not to be perfect. How you speak about someone's features might affect them more than you realize. Being “nosey” isn’t intrusive; it’s curiosity with empathy. It’s listening to others’ stories and understanding that what seems small to you might be the biggest thing for them.