In Petals of Perception, Ashly Tavarez explores the dynamic interplay between beauty standards and evolving notions of sensitivity and femininity from the 1940’s to present day. This project intertwines trending beauty tutorials, classic Hollywood glamor shots, and close-up footage of delicate blooming flowers. Variations in speed, layout, color and sound complicate the pleasing, classically feminine aesthetics of the source material. Drawing inspiration from sources such as Theo Eshetu's Till Death Do Us Part and the film Priscilla, Tavarez prompts reflection on the complexities of identity, perception, and the enduring quest for beauty in an ever-changing world.
---Ariadna Torres---