The Unseen Body

THE UNSEEN BODY is an ongoing project that has several series within it, all with the singular vision of exploring our relationship to the human body. Our bodies hold our stories and our life journeys. It is tempting to cover the scars, blemishes and the lines that tell our age. Without these signifiers it is difficult to step into the shoes of the older person, the awkward person, the overweight person or the invisible person. It becomes difficult to find compassion not only for others but for oneself, especially as we are constantly bombarded with images of human perfection. It is part of the human experience to seek beauty in art, but this has been misconstrued by the media to create an unattainable desire for body perfection in our culture.

These photographs are an attempt to show our strength and vulnerability as a mode of self identification rather than focusing on an abstract perception of the right way to look through the harsh lens that dictates the rigid standards of beauty.

It takes great courage and trust from the models that were photographed to allow these images to come to life. In turn, it also takes maturity to continue my personal journey, finding the strength and confidence to keep pursuing my art, even in times where work and family commitments overshadow this will. As a woman and an artist it is not easy to find “a room of one’s own”, both a literal and figurative space to pursue their creative expression within a tradition dominated by men. It is a life’s journey and practice.

Katerina’s art practice is focused on a strong sense of narrative and creating immersive worlds within her images. She has a strong feminine perspective and is most interested in creating images with a compelling female voice. Katerina uses both digital and analogue film and painting techniques in her work.

Katerina Stratos is a photographer and digital artist based in Los Angeles. She has received a BA in Visual Communication, majoring in photography from the University of Technology, Sydney. Following several years working as a graphic designer and illustrator, Katerina attended the Australian Film, Television and Radio School where she completed a post graduate course in production design for film. This particular combination of creative experiences have brought her to her current practice, melding together photography, digital illustration, set design, graphic design, storytelling and film.