Nudity, The Skin & Theraputic Textiles:
Goldsmiths, 2022
‘Second Skin' is a project orientated around world-building. The introductory line being: 'Nudity is Natural'.
Nudity and nudism are concepts championed by many different groups such as the FKK but the definition of nudity used by the Natural Nudity Collective is slightly different. To them to be nude is to be honest and open, both mentally and physically. They believe in embracing and celebrating all imperfections and have developed some fascinating ways of executing and educating others about this belief. We spent some time with a few members of the group, gaining an insight into their lives and their methods of being comfortable in their own skin.
The belief at the core of the group is that there is beauty in imperfection, and that the 'perfect skin', if there is one, is one of originality and personality. We must learn to care for and nurture these physical imperfections in order to better look after our mental imperfections and treat our flaws and blemishes with the same compassion and care that many of us invest in our unoriginal skin. Essentially if we were able to take the energy used to conceal or remove imperfections and transfer it into energy we use to care for ourselves, we would be much healthier both physically and mentally. Their aims and arguments are founded in a core belief in natural human beauty and communal care, but what are their methods and how effective are they?
At the start, the collective was mainly focused on conversation and a psychological and spiritual embracing of one’s flaws. It was simply a group of people whom all felt that they wanted to learn how to treat themselves and their bodies with more care and compassion. However, since their inception, they have begun to develop a more deliberate and specific method for accomplishing their aims. Originally using recycled natural ingredients and materials they began to produce various organic textiles for use as more sustainable alternatives to common materials used for various purposes within the community.
This developed into a new process which produces a material used to make the group’s ‘Second Skin’, a biologically grown membrane, reminiscent of human skin, which can be used to replicate physical flaws and imperfections in objects that exist independently from the body. These original prototypes were made using the group’s solution and various samples of genetic material.
Since developing the material the group has publicised their methods and techniques and encourages non-members to make their own versions as well. These published drawings take the form of simplistic graphic instructions to accompany the more specific recipe for the material. They claim that growing and caring for the skin yourself is an essential part of the process and that each piece of Second Skin is completely unique to its owner.
It involves selecting a genetic sample - such as hair, nails, skin or saliva - and placing it in a petri dish with Second Skin solution. Using this solution as per the collective’s instructions will eventually produce a sample of skin from one’s own genes. This can then be imprinted or marked in various ways to replicate imperfections in the skin which are relevant to the owner. This base method has also been used in various interesting ways and in combination with other materials to produce different final versions which explore various facets of skin originality and imperfections.
A prospective home of a member who wished to remain nameless enabled us to gain an insight into the role that the material plays in her life, as well as the nature of the process and its significance to her. Hanging in her bathroom to dry at a temperature of 28 degrees and controlled humidity, her latest samples are much larger than any we had seen up to that point. This is because, since joining the collective, she has proposed and is researching the potential uses for the material beyond having a symbolic significance. She aims to produce full garments of wearable Second Skin to act as a tool for a form of therapy for uninitiated members of the public who experience struggles with self-esteem, body image and appearance.
These claims that the skin may have this therapeutic potential have not been substantiated by scientific research but anecdotal evidence from the members of the community, are hard to ignore. Scientifically speaking our first skin acts as a filter and protection against the dangers of the world around us, the Natural nudity collective’s second skin takes on a very similar role, but instead protects us from the psychological challenges of the modern world, which evolution was not able to prepare us for. The skin is our largest organ, and it is essential, not only to acknowledge the role it plays in protecting us from harm, but also to see what it can inspire us to achieve beyond what is evolutionarily natural.
In order to maintain the material it must be fully moisturised several times a day and actively benefits from contact with the wearer’s skin. This jacket acts as a form of armour which one can wear and shed as they need, much like a snake does in a natural process of self-preservation.
While this is just one example, the potential for the Second Skin material is exciting, the material could be used for a wide variety of purposes. As the Second Skin has begun to gain popularity outside of the collective we have noticed a decline in sales related to the beauty industry. Furthermore, individuals who have claimed that they benefit from the use of Second Skins have also claimed that they are interacting less with the fast fashion industry as they learn to care for their own clothing in a more meaningful way. In the future should this gain popularity amongst the global population we project a noticeable decline in the beauty and fashion industry and most likely a shift in societal expectations of beauty.
It harnesses routine and our instinct to care and turns that outward instinct inwards. It can be used to represent our biggest flaws and insecurities outside of the body and by interacting and caring for them objectively, you learn to care for the flaws on your own body.
Process
Nudity and nudism are concepts championed by many different groups such as the FKK but the definition of nudity used by the Natural Nudity Collective is slightly different. To them to be nude is to be honest and open, both mentally and physically. They believe in embracing and celebrating all imperfections and have developed some fascinating ways of executing and educating others about this belief. We spent some time with a few members of the group, gaining an insight into their lives and their methods of being comfortable in their own skin.
The belief at the core of the group is that there is beauty in imperfection, and that the 'perfect skin', if there is one, is one of originality and personality. We must learn to care for and nurture these physical imperfections in order to better look after our mental imperfections and treat our flaws and blemishes with the same compassion and care that many of us invest in our unoriginal skin. Essentially if we were able to take the energy used to conceal or remove imperfections and transfer it into energy we use to care for ourselves, we would be much healthier both physically and mentally. Their aims and arguments are founded in a core belief in natural human beauty and communal care, but what are their methods and how effective are they?
At the start, the collective was mainly focused on conversation and a psychological and spiritual embracing of one’s flaws. It was simply a group of people whom all felt that they wanted to learn how to treat themselves and their bodies with more care and compassion. However, since their inception, they have begun to develop a more deliberate and specific method for accomplishing their aims. Originally using recycled natural ingredients and materials they began to produce various organic textiles for use as more sustainable alternatives to common materials used for various purposes within the community.
This developed into a new process which produces a material used to make the group’s ‘Second Skin’, a biologically grown membrane, reminiscent of human skin, which can be used to replicate physical flaws and imperfections in objects that exist independently from the body. These original prototypes were made using the group’s solution and various samples of genetic material.
Since developing the material the group has publicised their methods and techniques and encourages non-members to make their own versions as well. These published drawings take the form of simplistic graphic instructions to accompany the more specific recipe for the material. They claim that growing and caring for the skin yourself is an essential part of the process and that each piece of Second Skin is completely unique to its owner.
It involves selecting a genetic sample - such as hair, nails, skin or saliva - and placing it in a petri dish with Second Skin solution. Using this solution as per the collective’s instructions will eventually produce a sample of skin from one’s own genes. This can then be imprinted or marked in various ways to replicate imperfections in the skin which are relevant to the owner. This base method has also been used in various interesting ways and in combination with other materials to produce different final versions which explore various facets of skin originality and imperfections.
A prospective home of a member who wished to remain nameless enabled us to gain an insight into the role that the material plays in her life, as well as the nature of the process and its significance to her. Hanging in her bathroom to dry at a temperature of 28 degrees and controlled humidity, her latest samples are much larger than any we had seen up to that point. This is because, since joining the collective, she has proposed and is researching the potential uses for the material beyond having a symbolic significance. She aims to produce full garments of wearable Second Skin to act as a tool for a form of therapy for uninitiated members of the public who experience struggles with self-esteem, body image and appearance.
These claims that the skin may have this therapeutic potential have not been substantiated by scientific research but anecdotal evidence from the members of the community, are hard to ignore. Scientifically speaking our first skin acts as a filter and protection against the dangers of the world around us, the Natural nudity collective’s second skin takes on a very similar role, but instead protects us from the psychological challenges of the modern world, which evolution was not able to prepare us for. The skin is our largest organ, and it is essential, not only to acknowledge the role it plays in protecting us from harm, but also to see what it can inspire us to achieve beyond what is evolutionarily natural.
In order to maintain the material it must be fully moisturised several times a day and actively benefits from contact with the wearer’s skin. This jacket acts as a form of armour which one can wear and shed as they need, much like a snake does in a natural process of self-preservation.
While this is just one example, the potential for the Second Skin material is exciting, the material could be used for a wide variety of purposes. As the Second Skin has begun to gain popularity outside of the collective we have noticed a decline in sales related to the beauty industry. Furthermore, individuals who have claimed that they benefit from the use of Second Skins have also claimed that they are interacting less with the fast fashion industry as they learn to care for their own clothing in a more meaningful way. In the future should this gain popularity amongst the global population we project a noticeable decline in the beauty and fashion industry and most likely a shift in societal expectations of beauty.
It harnesses routine and our instinct to care and turns that outward instinct inwards. It can be used to represent our biggest flaws and insecurities outside of the body and by interacting and caring for them objectively, you learn to care for the flaws on your own body.