“Guide to a Healthy Body” Interview with Jasmine Veronica
“Guide to a Healthy Body” is an incredibly beautiful and profound piece. Equal parts poetry and photography, Jasmine Veronica draws on the irony of the language and images we are fed on social media, that tell us what it means to be “healthy”, “fit”, and “in-shape”.
There’s a lot to love about this work. The photos are full of personality and pride; and the overall critique is cheeky and incredibly fresh!
With instructions like “Jump rope for a minute and use the rope to measure your waist” ****and “Bounce that ass like a tennis ball”
Guide to a Healthy Body assures you that This guide won't bring any bodily changes to those who choose to follow it
JB: You recently won the Aperture + Google Creator Labs Photo Fund, only twenty artists in the country selected! You were then featured alongside Priya Suresh Kambli and Naomieh Jovin in Vogue Italia! Could you tell us more about your experience, and feelings on such an incredible achievement?
JV: It’s still something I’m wrapping my head around. I submitted my application on the last day and honestly tried to not think about it too much. Aperture is such a big name within the photo community and I knew that there would be a large number of incredible photographers who submitted, so I wasn’t anticipating being one of twenty picked.
I’m pretty sure I stopped breathing for at least 30 seconds when I read the email saying I was among those selected. I had a wave of emotions that ranged from disbelief, excitement, and pride, which is how I felt when I got the email regarding the Vogue Italia interview. Vogue is such a huge household name that I always dreamed of being involved with in whatever capacity someday, so receiving that email was even more mind-blowing.
It was also great to see fellow SAIC grad and BLKHappy artist Sophie Lopez among the twenty selected. We started at SAIC together and have seen our work evolve throughout the years, so seeing her on the recipient list made it even better.
JB: What does shooting in B&W mean to you in relation to themes like vulnerability, intimacy, and trauma?
JV: I always get looked at like I have three heads when I say this, but I don’t see photographs in color. When I visualize an image in my head, I see it in black and white before I even consider color. If I visualize it in color, which is rare, then I shoot it in color. I also think color can be a distraction in a way, especially since I have tattoos and change my hair every so often. I prefer black and white because it allows the viewer to focus on the story being told in the photo and the details. Especially since my work deals with themes such as vulnerability, intimacy, trauma, etc. I don’t want the red in my tattoos or the hues of the food I’m photographing, for example, to deter from what I’m discussing in my work.
JB: You mention in the opening text the pressure that social media puts on things like “body positivity, diet, and workout culture”. What are your thoughts on Body Neutrality? Would you consider “Guide To A Healthy Body” to be an encouragement of Body Neutrality?
JV: I actually prefer body neutrality over body positivity because it focuses on the acceptance of bodies in their current state and what they can do rather than outward appearance. I’m still working on GHB as an overall series, so I’m not ready to put it in a specific box or category yet. However, I would say that I resonate more with body neutrality or anything that allows someone to love themselves without fear of critique and harassment from unknown voices.
JB: I really love the question you ask in the end “What are we consuming everyday?” Have you been able to establish some techniques for taking care of yourself in these digital spaces?
JV: I like to use my Instagram story as a safe space. I mainly post reels that I find funny throughout the day, but I also share different content (music, art, etc.) that I’m enjoying at the moment. I do this so that I have something to go back to throughout the day whenever I need a pick-me-up or a chuckle. I also do this in case someone else might need a good laugh throughout their day as well. Social media can be so hectic and draining these days that it almost feels depressing; so finding some form of comfort and joy is how I take care of myself when online.
