For centuries, women have been seen as the “object to be looked at” rather than the “one who looks”. In particular, the female nude has long been consumed as an object of male desire and possession. As a female artist, I have felt the need to create images that embody the female gaze and express female desire. I believe that as images created from a female perspective become more prevalent, we can begin to dismantle the binary stereotypes of male–strong–active and female–weak–passive.

    This photo series explores the shifts in desire and power that occur when the relationship between the “one who looks” (the artist) and the “one who is looked at” (the model) is subverted. The title, The Rules of Being a Model, presupposes the existence of an unseen observer—the “one who looks”—positioned behind the frame. As viewers engage with the images, they are inevitably prompted to ask: What are the ideal conditions of a model?

    By following the gaze of the observer, I hope the audience will ask themselves, What does it mean to take a photo—or to look at someone?

    In this work, I created nude images that reflect female desire, departing from the conventional lens of the male gaze. At times voyeuristic, at others sadistic, the images are intended to provoke reflection on how sexual desire is constructed and perceived through the photographic gaze.