By: Marissa HernandezDESMA 9: Art + Science + Technology

Professor Victoria VesnaSpring 2015Section 1C

Journey Through Cosmetic SurgeryA Visual Experience

ABSTRACTPopular media often glorifies the before and after

pictures of cosmetic surgery, while failing to completely portray the detailed journey patients undergo. By creating an exhibition in which visitors can walk through the step by step process of cosmetic surgery, they can share the experience of the patient. The purpose of this exhibition is to detail all the different components of surgery, such as the surgical procedure, cost breakdown, and emotional experiences. Various types of visual mediums, such as video interviews, photography, and holographic 3D images, are used to provide a realistic account of individuals who chose to undergo cosmetic surgery.

ABOUT COSMETIC SURGERYThrough this project, I aim to provide the general population with a holistic, informative experience about undergoing cosmetic surgery. Specifically, I am interested in using different forms of visual art as tools to engage and educate the public. Reconstructive surgery originated over 4,000 years ago with physicians in India using skin grafts as early as 600 BC. Over the next thousands of years, plastic surgery slowly moved West. Major technological advances were made in the 20th century due to the high number of casualties from modern weaponry inWorld War I, which required the treatment of various head and facial injuries. Plastic surgery transformed from a war associated procedure to a means of maintaining a youthful appearance. Today, cosmetic surgery is increasingly on the rise with 9.2 million surgeries being performed in the US alone at a cost of nearly $10 billion1.

CONTEXT & PRECEDENTS

Over the past 15 years, cosmetic procedure has increased by 197% from 1996 to 20112. Globally, South Korea is the cosmetic surgery capital of the world with roughly one in five woman undergoing surgery according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons3. Today, there has been heated debate whether plastic surgery should be used solely for corrective purposes, while banning cosmetic surgery, especially for minors.

Many artists have explored the controversial issue of cosmetic surgery, including Orlan, Jonathan Yeo, and most recently, Ji Yeo. Orlan is famously known for undergoing nine plastic surgeries, each its own performance that she methodically choreographed. Jonathan Yeo is a portrait artist known for his paintings which illustrate facelifts and breast enhancements. Specifically detailing the post-surgical experience of patients, Ji Yeo used photography to capture the recovery stage of various South Korean women.

Cosmetic Surgery Used to Meet Todays Unrealistic Beauty Standards

PROJECT PROPOSAL

An exhibition with multiple rooms will be created. The visitor will begin in the first room where they will be assigned to go through the plastic surgery experience of one specific individual. They will see a before 3D hologram image of that individual as well as the mark ups of that individuals body of where they will have plastic surgery. Also, they will see a before interview clip of why that individual wants the surgery. The visitor will then proceed through different rooms where they shall go step by step to witness the experience from beginning to end.

Each individual undergoing surgery will be assigned a number, which the visitor will press a coordinating button when they arrive in each room. For example, visitor A is assigned to follow Ashleys experience by pressing number 2. Photographs taken during the persons specific surgery will appear as well as an interview that was taken briefly after. Each surgery will be separated by room (ie. nose job, breast augmentation, tummy tuck). A sign will illuminate at the end of each surgery to show the cost of the specific procedure.

PROJECT PROPOSAL CONT.

After going through the various rooms and witnessing the different surgeries their assigned individual underwent, they will enter the recovery room where they will see the aftermath of the surgery. Full length photos of their assigned individual will appear on the walls. Upon leaving the recovery room, they will enter the after room where they will see two side by side holographic images of the individual before the surgery and after the surgery. There will also be an after interview where the individual who underwent surgery talks about their overall experience and sentiments regarding the process.

PROJECT PROPOSAL CONT.

CONCLUSIONPlastic surgery has grown to become a common procedure that has often been glorified by the media, especially cosmetic work that has been done by celebrities. Men and women of increasingly younger ages are turning to cosmetic surgery as a means of achieving societys perception of beauty, which has become more unrealistic as image editing software such as Photoshop continues to advance. This project provides a detailed account of individuals who undergo surgery and convey their story to the public. With this holistic presentation, I hope to visually stimulate visitors via the various art methods used in this exhibition. It aims to question the extremes people are willing to endure in order to achieve a scientifically constructed, often unrealistic body. How realistic is the standard of beauty we are attempting to aspire to?

1 "How Many People Have Plastic Surgery Each Year?" How Many People Have Plastic Surgery Each Year ? JUVE Surgical, 2011. Web. 04 May 2015. .

2 "Kyoto Protocol." United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 2007-10-24 .

3 "Cosmetic Surgery: 15 Years of Facts and Figures." The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery3. N.p., 3 May 2012. Web. 04 May 2015. .

REFERENCES

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Dotschkal, Janna. "Musings: Ji Yeos Beauty Recovery Room." National Geographic. N.p., 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 04 May 2015. .

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