Behind a face there is a story. For Sophie Mayanne, the story is behind a scar.
An indelible mark of the skin that cannot be erased or removed. There are those who choose to get a tattoo thus imprinting a message on their skin, a meaning that will never abandon it. Even those who have a scar, more or less visible on their body, every time they look at it will remember the meaning it had in their life.
The difference? The scars, compared to tattoos, are not chosen. Today at least that’s the way things are, but if we go a little back in time, perhaps it will surprise us to discover that tattoos and scars have more in common than we think.
The ancient Romans strongly believed in the purity of the human body, which is why the tattoo was forbidden and became the tool used to brand criminals and condemned to death. A sign that identified those who did not want to adapt to the rules of society. A sign that no one chose, but that others imposed. Not much different then from a scar, is it?
Always frightened by those who show themselves with a different aspect from ours. Do you know the reason what it is? We are all afraid of what we do not know and what does not resemble us. The photographer Sophie Mayanne overcome this fear by transforming it into curiosity. The smile and the poses in which Sophie shows herself on her Instagram profile send a clear message.
We’re not dealing with a girl who bothers to post photos that pretend a body she doesn’t have. She is not thin, she is not blonde and she does not have a proportionate physique. Do you find this to be a problem?
Not for me, for our society maybe yes … What is certain is that Instagram filters are falling. Down the mask and down the filter when it comes to body positivity as the trend of the moment. In my opinion it shouldn’t be a trend, but something so normal that it can become a beautiful and boring habit. Only by falling into banality can a body that does not fit into the aesthetic standards imposed by society be truly accepted and not labeled as different.
Behind The Scars wants to do just that. Open a social profile where it is normal to post a photo of a face that is not perfect. The photo of a body visibly marked by scars and spots that cannot fail to catch the eye of the people who look at it.
Behind The Scars is a photography campaign that celebrates scars of all shapes and sizes, but most of all the incredible stories behind these marks. Sophie Mayanne has since April 2017 captured over 400 portraits and stories that encourage many men, women and children to embrace the skin they are in.
From surgical scars to accidents: each photo is an act of self-love, acceptance and challenge. Photos posted on @behindthescars_ are told in the captions directly by the voice of the protagonists of the shots.
Hello everyone! I’m Tessa and I was born with a birthmark on my face due to Sturge Weber syndrome, Oh yes and I’m also blind in my right eye. But fear not, I can do almost anything and will share it with you. Other than that, I was born and raised in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. I love books, documentaries, writing, yoga and much more.
What is surprising is the light, ironic and direct tone with which the protagonists of the photographic series tell their stories. Their scars in this way are no longer something to look at with fear or displeasure, but a distinctive trait that makes them unique. Faces that don’t seem at all uncomfortable in front of the lens. Perhaps those who cannot go further in front of these photos should feel uncomfortable. Beyond the scars.
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