‘The Sum of Our Parts,’ says Jamie,

protests against the pervasive body fascism that sickens our society. Avoiding any image manipulation or airbrushing they portray the beauty of natural bodies, shown as the Gods intended.

one small seed interviewed Jamie in 2011 about the 400 plaster casts he sculpted of women’s vulva’s (‘The Great Wall of Vagina’), his latest work continues to transcend the erotic and pornographic connotations that often come with creating art out of nudity.

Keep posted for issue #3 of one small seed magazine where we delve a little deeper, and explore how the ‘vagina’ has been desensitised and exploited by the media to get more ‘clicks’…

Considering the passing of Madiba and South Africa celebrating its 20 years as a democracy, it is almost unbelievable to read statements by TimeLive saying that ‘many called her actions distasteful and commented on whether her body was good enough to be shown in public.’

Sounds like a opinion of Page 3 hopefuls.

Khotso Tladi, a chef at Baglios, quotes:

She didn’t have a nice body, everything was saggy and she had hair. Afroman was better.

With Nelson Mandela Day being only two weeks ago on the 18th of July, this really is a time to reflect and remember all that he stood for and the positive changes he made. Here’s a little thought of our own.

South Africa in 2014 is a year that will be remembered for decades to come. A year of celebration, of loss, and of positive change. A year the Mother City – and the first city in Africa – took the title of World Design Capital 2014, while the entire country celebrates 20 years in a democracy. While the entire world – in solitude and in global gatherings of thousands – mourned over the passing Madiba. But ultimately we celebrate his legacy by keeping his message and his character alive in all we do. A message about freedom, of acceptance, of having the tenacity to express with conviction… This woman shows all of that, why she did it? Well, we’re busy finding out. Stay posted.

Give us your own opinion on this ‘performance’ in the comment box below.

While were on the topic of nakedness, check out our pretty prevealing post Vagina Activism: Shameless Provocation or Conceptual Art!

Incredible Stadiums proposed for Qatar’s Second 2022 World Cup Stadium

© Neoscape, Inc

Here are some of the comments people left below the video on YouTube. Read on for images of the Second design … Feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment below or tweeting us at @onesmallseedSA.

jackreaper131

‘This is actually a sea shell not a vagina’

Joe Joel1

‘Sounds and even looks good but it will never happen. We are living in very liquid times. The way we planed for the future has changed even if we have not kept up with the change’

Pierre Louis1

‘The country is too small. When all these fans get in there the temperature will reach 190 degrees. Completely impossible. I wish United Emirates was close to them .That way they both can do it together.’

znekile7

‘hahahhaa designer out.’

Image unveiling of the Al Bayt Stadium…..

image: © Neoscape, Inc

© Neoscape, Inc

© Neoscape, Inc

Images: © Neoscape, Inc.

Check out our article “VAGINA ACTIVISM | SHAMELESS PROVOCATION OR CONCEPTUAL ART?” on one small seed here.

Jamie McCartney, a sculptor and ‘Plastercaster’ from Brighton, UK, has spent years making and arranging 400 plaster casts of vaginas to create ‘The Great Wall of Vagina’. One would imagine he must be pretty charming to have convinced such a number of women to strip off for him…

Where did the idea for this come from?

I was commissioned in Summer 2006 by an erstwhile sex museum to produce a sculpture that was to be an exposé of the different shapes and sizes of breasts and male and female genitals. As an artist this really interested me. I came to realise that most women don’t know what other women’s genitals really look like.

After five years working on the project, have you just about had enough of vaginas?

Well I don’t think I would do another project about genitals. I’ve certainly done enough vagina casting to last a lifetime and artistically I’m already onto other things. However, I’m a straight man and I love women. I don’t think I could have done a project like this if I didn’t. Let’s just say that professionally I’m done with them but recreationally I’m still enthusiastic.

You’ve said that the work avoids being pornographic because of how it is presented – tell us how you decided on the materials and arrangement?

These rows upon rows of casts displayed in this way have nothing to do with eroticism. This was never about that. It is in fact not sexy at all. The brick-like grid of the uniformly white plaster casts becomes just texture from a distance. As you approach you realise what you are looking at. The geometry of 4 rows of 10 casts in each panel is repeated in the 10 panels, creating 4 lines of 100 casts. The solid aluminium frames in contrast to the undulating curves of the casts give it an almost architectural strength. That imposition of geometry on these simulacra of flesh and their sheer number and juxtaposition abstracts it away from any notion of pornography.

No doubt had I chosen to create this piece photographically then, by the use of that common language, it could never have escaped from pornographic connotations. Had I painted them to look realistic, they would have just looked like medical models. It would also have brought the whole issue of race into the piece, which I felt was very important to avoid. The language of sculpture allows the piece to transcend all of that.

You did a before and after cast of a woman who had labiaplasty – what was her motivation to do it? I ask because it seems odd that someone who hates how they look enough to go under a knife would immortalize themselves in plaster, especially as you were unable to find a victim of FGM who would participate.

If a woman chooses to have cosmetic surgery after seeing all these casts then at least she is making an informed decision. This lady saw my casts and still wanted to get the surgery and she is happy with the results.

One of your videos begins with the words, ‘One Man, 200 Women.’ How has being a man affected your work with all these vaginas?

Yes that video was made two years ago when it was a work in progress. I think of it as working with 400 women rather than 400 vaginas. Some people have suggested it is less powerful coming from a man but I disagree. This is about changing both male and female attitudes and I don’t think my sex is relevant, although other men may take it better coming from another man.

Jamie is producing a book about the wall, with stories from participants, and is hoping to take it on tour. Check it out at www.gwov.co.uk

Source: Rosalind Duffy, dontpaniconline