Human greatness has been manifested throughout modern and even ancient history through sculptures and paintings of the human form. Gods and Goddesses often appeared nude or semi-nude. Our nudity and the shapes of our bodies have always fascinated us as a species. The representation ranges from crude cave paintings to the complex nudes of today. Toplessness and nudity were the norm in many societies. The paintings of the Ancient Egyptians had many topless females, it's similar for the Minoans, even the accounts of the first encounters with Australian aborigines are full of women and men roaming freely au naturale.
The modern concept of body shame is therefore very perplexing. Was it Victorian up-tightness that made clothes so important? Was it the poverty that preceded the mass-production of modern apparel that made clothes a sign of wealth? It is indeed a very interesting thing trying to consider all the causes that led to modern attitudes towards nudity and the female nude. Body shame is clearly not a sign of being civilized, the ancient civilizations embraced nudity. Also, in modern nations with strong cultural influence and highly-civilized attitudes - mainly Germany and Scandinavia - nudity is no longer taboo. Actresses commonly appear nude, and it has nothing to do with attracting an audience or appealing to the lowest common denominator. I personally think that nudity is abstract for those who can appreciate it, and basic when people can't - Dwayne Bell's mirror effect. By preventing people from seeing the bigger meaning and leaving them entrapped to basic sexual associations then we are actually curbing their power to imagine and to aspire to a higher moral ground. To see what's beyond the obvious.
This particular set reminded me of that awe, that powerful inspiration of the human form, and the hope that it offers. The hope without which we are lost.
It takes a lot of skill to be a photographer. You need to know a lot about lighting, photography techniques, have a vision to present, and most of all, to know how to bring out the best of your subjects. In the case of nude photography, this means bringing out the model's hidden beauty in addition to her visible one.
Based on this definition, I can claim that David Allio is a great photographer, apart from the fact that he has been taking pictures for about 40 years and has received many awards, his works clearly show a mastery of the visual and a unique vision.
I really like pictures that show the subtle curves of the body, the "landscape" of our physical existence, the landscape that can almost resembles our planet.
There is a great human diversity in nudes that promotes tolerance. There also is the unique anatomy that represents the unmistakable human qualities that are a part of our beauty, and the beauty of humanity.
That's how art can be a window to the soul, you can learn a lot about humanity and life through a simple piece of art, art is the creation of the human mind, and our minds are our most previous possessions. It's seeing the world from a different perspective, a perspective of a person with a different vision, a perspective that can make you more aware of things that you simply didn't seem to notice.
Who knows, maybe you will learn a thing or two by looking at those American nudes. I certainly did.
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