After ages of procrastination, I finally decided to try formal art classes. I had always feared that rules would take the fun out of my art. Art is where I go to unwind and let my mind wander, and the idea of placing boundaries in that safe space never sat well with me.
But this year, I signed up for weekend spring classes; telling myself to keep an open mind and take in only what resonated. I was intimidated - I didn't know if this would draw me deeper into art or push me away. To my surprise, it was overwhelming, but in the best possible way.
The reason for this post is however not to cover my art journey (I have just started so I will give it some time to settle in); but instead to capture my thoughts upon observing a profession in real life that I have only watched on screen -
Live nude models. And the quiet power of their bare form.
I spent an entire day observing nude male and female body for figure drawing, and it blew my mind in ways I had not expected.
Nudity is not something that's celebrated in the world. I'm not talking about its public display, but even in private, we are not comfortable seeing our own nude forms. And when it comes to seeing another person's body, it's usually limited to either in sexual context or a clinical setting - whether with partners, massage therapists, doctors or in places like bathhouses.
This shapes our perception of nudity, making it heavily dependent on the context in which we encounter it. As a result, it tends to feel either erotic, romantic, or uncomfortable - or simply clinical, in a detached way.
When it comes to nude scenes on screen, it's once again tied to a preset emotion. There is always a story, and as an audience, we've already absorbed its tone. So when we process those scenes, our perception is biased - we see what the story wants us to see.
Art, however, has a way of conveying a different, more open emotion - whether through photographs, paintings, sculptures or poetry. When you look at a still image of a nude figure, and allow yourself to truly absorb it, you begin to explore a different world within yourself. It gives you the space to define and project your own emotions onto the image.
Yesterday, the morning class focused on the basics of figure drawing, and afternoon on proportion; 3.5 hrs each. This was my first time ever in an art school, so although the material mentioned a live model, I wasn't really expecting to walk into nude models on day one.
What was interesting was my reaction to it. When I first saw the female model walk up the stage and take off her gown, I was like "Oh! so we are really doing this". That feeling lasted only a fraction of a second and then I was immediately drawn to her poses, absorbed in putting them on paper. By the time I entered my afternoon session with a male model, I was already seeing beyond the skin. Somewhere between the first sketch and the next pose, I stopped looking at the body and started looking through it.
What struck me most was how natural it all felt. The models held themselves with quiet professionalism, while the students, lost in their work, made the moment feel almost routine. The room was quiet except for the soft scratches of charcoal on paper.
That's what I loved the most - it allowed me to see, feel and understand the human body in a way I never had before. For the first time, Nudity, though uncovered, no longer felt exposed.
On my drive back from the downtown, after spending a good seven hours observing the human body, I let myself appreciate the work the models put in. It takes a different level of confidence and courage to let a group of strangers observe every detail of your body. Not to mention the physical strength it takes to hold poses for two minutes, ten minutes or even hours. It's a tough gig. I couldn't help but wonder what life path brought them into this profession and whether they enjoyed it. Whenever I watched movies or series showing live models in art classes, I never realized how demanding it truly was, or the complexity behind it all.
My respect for these models and this profession has risen to the very top. To not only accept your body and be comfortable in your skin, but to present it with such simplicity and elegance - that's no small feat.
Before I get too philosophical and go off on a tangent, I'll call it a day. I simply wanted to share the feeling of unlocking a new world within me. What I make of it is yet to be seen. For now, I just want to sit with this feeling - this new perspective on life, this almost out-of-body experience. Of shifting my perception of nudity - from something context-bound and exposed to something grounded in presence, discipline, and quiet human dignity.
Maybe that's what art does - it doesn't change what you see, it changes how you see it!!
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