Body of flesh - Pinar Yolacans Portraits

I stumbled across Pinar Yolacan's Body of flesh portraits whilst doing some artist research and like how i imagine most people to react i was initally alarmed.
These women standing with pride without a hint of embarassment wearing meat as if it was an embellishment.But behind the pictures is hidden meaning and pain.




This is greatly evident when you understand the story behind the 'Maria' series where the ladies are not WASPS.






Here are women from the Bahia region in Brazil. Here, the flesh changes its value: it isnt about age any more, but about distinction and pride, but also submission and humiliation, about the color of skin.

Maria is the most common Portuguese name - and in Brazil nearly every woman has Maria as one of her names. A reference to the Virgin Mary, a reference that challenges our thinking about holiness in the images in which it is representing. Beneath the raw, dark flesh is purity.