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***ID 70*** *Nobody* In *Nobody,* I project Emily Dickinso..

Published: August 21st 2024, 5:36:49 pm

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***ID 70*** *Nobody*

In *Nobody,* I project Emily Dickinson's poem "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" onto my naked back, allowing the words to trace the contours of my body which reveal my torso and butt as I narrate the verses.

Emily Dickinson's poem explores the themes of identity, privacy, and the tension between being "Nobody" and "Somebody." Dickinson’s embrace of being "Nobody" challenges societal expectations, suggesting that there is freedom and power in anonymity. To be "Nobody," in her view, is to exist outside the pressures of public scrutiny, to retain a sense of self that is untouched by the need for validation or recognition.

As a model and artist, these themes resonate deeply with me. My work often places me in the role of "Somebody"—a figure observed, interpreted, and sometimes objectified by the public. The visibility that comes with this role is both empowering and vulnerable, as I navigate the space between self-expression and external perception. Dickinson’s poem, however, offers a different perspective: it celebrates the value of maintaining a private, inner self, free from the gaze of others.

In *Nobody,* I embody this duality. The poem's words, projected onto my body, transform into a physical experience, blurring the line between the poem’s message and my own identity. By choosing to display these words on my skin, I invite you, as a viewer, to engage with the themes of the poem while also confronting your own role as observers.

*Nobody* is a meditation on identity and the power of choosing when and how to be seen. It challenges the viewer to reconsider the value of visibility and the freedom that comes with embracing the "Nobody" within. Through this work, I reclaim my body as a canvas for my own narrative, one that exists beyond societal expectations, where I am free to define myself on my own terms.

**In this video:**

In this 1-minute and 6-second video, I appear for the first 43 seconds, where you see my naked, but not explicitly nude, body, including my bare butt, as I stand in front of a projector with Emily Dickinson's poem "I'm Nobody! Who are you?" projected onto my skin. I narrate the poem over soft music, with the remaining time dedicated to credits and an extension of the music creating an intimate and contemplative visual experience.

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