Jordan Marquis

Experiences

The recorded audio depiction of individual experiences with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, as a part of my final thesis body of work, Mind Over Body

“Mind Over Body began as a personal project as a means of exploring the effects of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) on my own mental health and quickly became about giving a voice to a larger group of people. Culminating as a series of macro images, the scale and close-up of intimate areas representing the mental and emotional capacity these aspects of their body take up for those inflicted with Body Dysmorphia. These images are the only information presented about the individuals being photographed to symbolize how we fixate on these areas as major flaws; the only thing people notice when they see us. To contextualize the imagery is the audio recording consisting of my voice reading the shared experiences of individuals with BDD, all others involved in the process of this work remain anonymous to comfort and encourage those sharing their individual experiences to be open and honest. Anonymity is a major component of this series in the sense that it allows for those to be heard and understood without having to be vulnerable or subjected to judgement, while I am aware of who is represented in the images, all stories are submitted completely anonymously. In providing a safe space and platform to speak on a sensitive topic, Mind Over Body is designed to create a larger understanding of the effects and countless experiences of those living with Body Dysmorphic Disorder so they are met with acceptance rather than dismissed.”