ECSTATIC NUDES  

Exploring what it means to reclaim the Black female nude from a place of ecstacy, strength, Black joy and embodied elated resistance.

Ella Cooper approaches the theme of justice from an embodied elated resistance that draws from Black pleasure politics, Black joy, embodiment and Afro-futurism to create new representations of the Black female nude. She first uses  her own racialized body as a site of inquiry to create participatory photo-video projects that include a new series she has coined ‘Ecstatic Nudes’. Working with different groups of Black female identified women, Ella invites people to help her create images that explore what it means to reclaim the Black female body from a place of joy, community, strength and uplifted movement.

New work being shown this month at AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) First Thursdays!

Using principles of dance improvisation, ecstatic movement and embodiment Ella invites all nude participants to revel in their Black bodies, to experience a feeling of reverence, playfulness and beauty while being witnessed by the camera.