The idea that as humans we have what for me is the unique
ability to associate one thing with another is an easy one to understand in the
case of a photography book in my collection called Madonna Nudes – 1979 by
Martin Hugo Maximilian Schreiber (Taschen 1979).
There are three nudes in the
collection that reveal the fact that in 1979 Madonna did not shave under her
arms and that her hair in the Lower Countries was a neat black. Some people
were shocked by this.
It would seem that some thought that underarm hair would make women less
feminine and more smelly.
In 1989 I had a show that featured at least 16 women in
tubs. One of them was Caroline Matthews who did not shave her underarm hair. An
in 1989 the Brazilian had yet to come into popularity. Hair grew elsewhere,
naturally.
I remember having an argument with my Rosemary who thought
that Caroline’s hair was disgusting. I attempted to tell her that the custom of
women shaving their hair up there was just a custom. We could adapt and perhaps
even see the beauty of it.
In this 21st century, at least 20 years past the
popularity of the Brazilian method of removing “unwanted” hair from down there
is perhaps in the wane.
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| Photograph by Martin Hugo Maximilian Schreiber |