Women Off the World (WOW) is an artistic/social photography project that involves portraying a series of women, of varying ages, who live in various parts of the world, and who hold a common denominator:  they live in extreme poverty and destitution. The aim of this project is to demonstrate the extent to which true beauty is an absolute natural trait that cannot be recreated artificially through practices such as cosmetology or plastic surgery.

​On the faces of these women, beauty gains a special connotation. Signs of their daily lives, burdened by hardships and suffering, remain imprinted in their semblances like an undisputable mark; it’s a matter of “listening” to their expressions.

​The final selection of images will go on a traveling exposition of several cities in the European Union as well as all over the world, and will remain available for any endorsements. Most of the photos will be in black and white, with a few in color. The format will be 50 x70 cm or 70x100 cm.  The pictures will be mounted on aluminum sheets and will be covered by extremely clear and bright Plexiglas in order to intensify contrast.

In addition, a book will also be published containing all the photos displayed in the exposition.  The book will also be in a large format, printed in the highest quality, and will be available for purchase at the exposition stands, as well as in bookstores.

It is important to note that almost all of the portraits chosen for the exposition will be decontextualized from the locations in which they were taken. To accomplish this, the background will be neutral, black or white. It will appear as if the pictures were taken inside a professional studio, in order to maximize the focus of the photos on the faces of the women.

 

This initiative has two primary aims, the first, as explained so far, is artistic; the second, is strongly social, with the intent of sensitizing the public opinion about the condition of women in various parts of the planet, in places where women are often seen as subordinate to men. 

With this statement, I am referring to child brides forced into arranged marriages, to the faces burned by acid, to the sex-trafficking of minors, and to all the forms of violence towards defenseless women.

Thus, with the entrance fee to the photography exposition (which wanting could be limited to “invitation only”), and with the sales of the prints and photography book, revenues will be accumulated that will sponsor organizations and institutions that are passionate about improving the conditions of women facing the aforementioned conditions.

The photographs are planned to be taken in three main locations, where poverty seems to be a widespread condition:

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SOUTH AMERICA (Brazil and Argentina)

AFRICA (Eritrea and Ethiopia)

ASIA (India, Nepal and Bangladesh)

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The tentative timetable for the photo shoots will require about 10-15 days per location visited, therefore completing all photo shoots within a timeframe of about 5 months. Afterwards, additional time will be needed for post-production work, the printing of the photographs for the exposition and the publishing of the corresponding book.

                                                                                                                              

 

                                                                                                                                                                           Daniele & Giovanni Marangoni