Bulimic, 2010

Bulimic is part of a series of works called “Cut this fat off of me!” that I produced along my thesis research process. The series is composed of six different artworks on how women perceive their bodies through the eyes of the others and struggle with fatness in different stages of their lives. The series tell the story of a lifetime with bodies through the stages; adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Based on the age differences in understanding and handling the fat problem one of the first works bulimic under 'Adolescence', conceptualizes the process how young girls sensationally become acquainted with their sexuality and their bodies, and with what measures they react to fat.

The studies of Heuenemann et al. indicate that excessive weight deviations tend to be more common among adults than adolescents, yet adults appear to be less concerned about their weights and less apt to take remedial measures that requires patience and determination than teenagers. Almost all obese and many non-obese adolescents are concerned about weight and they engage in remedial efforts more than adults. Concerning the age difference, due to their recent experience with the dramatic physical changes, brought about by the accelerated growth of puberty, adolescents are more self-conscious about their bodies than are adults. The desire to conform to others and to ideals in weight and appearance is particularly strong during adolescence, probably stronger than it is in adult life.

The installation draws attention to one very common eating disorder among adolescents that is bulimia, simply by placing two 60x90 cm mirrors across each other, one covered with real puke. When the viewer stands in between the mirrors, s/he sees the reflection of the image of the puke going to eternity. Bulimia is a fatal disease if not treated properly.