Background
FacexFace is an artistic endeavor focused on showcasing the beauty of diverse human faces in New York City. In a culture where there’s significant pressure to adhere to particular beauty standards—often by imitating celebrities or using filters—this project honors faces in their natural state.
I believe that faces are the universe’s most artistic creation. Currently, we are losing touch with what is natural and beautiful, as definitions of beauty evolve more rapidly than ever. Young people face relentless pressure to conform to specific appearances, and with the growing accessibility of plastic surgery and non-invasive treatments, many pursue altered and atypical looks.
Perfection
There is a fixation on achieving perfect symmetry and flawlessness, fueled by the heavily edited images prevalent on social media. However, since absolute symmetry and perfection are not found in nature, this pursuit inevitably results in disappointment and dissatisfaction. We have stopped truly seeing each other, instead becoming absorbed in our phones, admiring and liking filtered and digitally altered faces. This has caused us to lose our connection with reality.
My Goal
With FacexFace, my goal is to revive the appreciation for the natural appearance of human faces. The project strives to reaffirm the beauty of imperfections and asymmetry, showcasing the authenticity of human faces. By capturing and celebrating real, unaltered faces, FacexFace aims to reconnect people with the essence of natural beauty, challenging the trend of artificial perfection and promoting a healthier perception of beauty in our society.
Let’s Get Back to Normal
My Greater Goal with FacexFaceNYC
As a facial plastic surgeon, I frequently encounter individuals with distorted perceptions of beauty, heavily influenced by the manipulated images they see on social media. These photos, often extensively filtered and edited, set an unattainable standard of perfection that many people try to achieve. This constant exposure to fabricated beauty has led to widespread unhappiness, especially among the youth, who feel immense pressure to conform to these unrealistic ideals.
The obsession with digitally altered images has created a general dissatisfaction with natural appearances, fostering an environment where imperfections are viewed as flaws rather than unique aspects of individual beauty. This phenomenon has not only skewed our collective understanding of beauty but has also significantly impacted the self-esteem and mental well-being of young people.
hrough my FacexFace project, I aim to challenge these detrimental beauty standards by highlighting real faces and celebrating their natural beauty. By capturing and showcasing the diverse and authentic faces of people in NYC, I hope to help society reframe its concept of beauty. This project seeks to remind us that true beauty lies in our unique features and imperfections and that striving for perfection as dictated by manipulated images is both unrealistic and harmful. FacexFace aspires to reconnect people with the reality of natural beauty and promote a healthier, more accepting view of themselves and others.
