Before being subjected to harsh anti-nudity laws, Tumblr was the hub of pretty much everything fascinating occurring online in 2013. It made it possible for adult material to coexist and flourish alongside more conventional forms of art. It was also a center of creativity and a refuge for sex workers, females, and LGBTQ+ artists. CamGirls Project, a digital collage project that enabled online females to submit their nude pictures to be overlaid onto Renaissance nudes, originated from this setting.
The project, which was the idea of British artist Sessa Omoregie, has evolved over time (including IRL exhibitions and a hard copy zine), but what has remained constant is its commitment to reclaiming power for the muses who captured the male imagination but were never given the opportunity to choose how they were represented.
In response to the inquiries, the founder of the project took a seat to discuss representation, the reclaiming of female agency online, and how her project foresaw the Google Arts & Culture art selfie craze in light of the Tumblr nudity ban and its ramifications for creators concerned with the politics of female representation.
I knew I wanted to make a contribution to that kind of art in some manner since I have always been in awe of classic paintings, especially Renaissance paintings. However, since I'm not a skilled artist, the media I had at my disposal—the internet, of course—were what actually motivated me. So in order to give these paintings a fresh perspective, it really became a team effort with the community. It raised a number of issues related to censorship, bodily autonomy, agency, and image.
How do you feel about Tumblr's nudity ban? In 2013, you launched the CamGirls Project there.
The way they implemented such a broad ban without actually considering their consumers comes off as quite harsh. It's kind of depressing that CamGirls, which began on Tumblr but has since migrated to a website, is no longer associated with its beginnings.
We often refer to webcam models as "cam girls," but from what I gather, the project is established in partnership with women in general, even if some of them also happen to be cam girls in the classic sense.
Yes, I did borrow that phrase from its proper context in order to somewhat normalize it. But also work on changing how it's used to disparage or humiliate women who like snapping selfies and being in front of the camera online. Webcam usage is growing in acceptance and is becoming less controversial. Check it out for yourself: every day, thousands of women search for information regarding how much a camgirl make (https://my.club/blog/how-much-do-camgirls-make/).This demonstrates their desire to work in this subject and their interest in it.