Nue York: Self-Portraits of a Bare Urban Citizen

• Prize
• Photographer
  Erica Simone, United States
• Studio
  Erica Simone, LLC
• Website
  http://www.ericasimone.com

'Nue York: Self-Portraits of a Bare Urban Citizen' is a self-
portrait project that bloomed from an initial questioning about
clothing and the importance of fashion in modern society.

What we wear acts as a silent language allowing us to portray
who we are or want to be, suggesting to the outer world an
impression on us—whatever that may be. Fashion tends to
segregate us as well as adapt us into various social categories,
also helping us communicate our moods.

New York City is a fashion mecca, where image and stature
reign the streets. As I watch an image-absorbed society care
more about the sales at Barney’s than the homeless people they
ignore as they parade by, I began to ponder: “What would the
world feel like naked? What if we didn’t have clothing to come in
between us? Or if we couldn’t show off our social status? What if
all we had were our bodies to express our personalities?” These
questions raised many various issues and these issues raised
many various questions. “How have we evolved so far away from
our utmost primary state of being that it is actually against the
law to be nude in public?” Naked is who we are and who we
come into the world as.

'Nue York'‬ is equally a movement about being comfortable with
who you are as a person, with your body, your mind and your
role in society. It's about being free from the confinements of
societal's expectations and the media's projections.

I grew up between LA, Paris and NYC and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Awards PDN/Profoto Contest Winner, 2009
National Geographic Contest Winner, 2008
Philips/PHOTO Contest Winner, 2007
Copa5 Artist of the Year, 2005