A Photography Exploration of Manufactured Beauty
Chimera
Examining how beauty ideals, digital manipulation & social comparison reshape our sense of self.
Chimera is my Master’s photography project, an investigation into how modern beauty standards are constructed, perpetuated, and policed.
Drawing on portraiture, tarot archetypes, and elements of Greek mythology, the series explores how women both shape and are shaped by these ideals, and how digital tools, from AI filters to cosmetic editing, are accelerating a homogenisation of beauty.
Masters of Photography at PSC Melbourne
About the Project
We live in an age where beauty is curated, filtered, and monetised at an unprecedented pace. Chimera looks at this cultural shift through the lens of portraiture, mapping a progression from individuality to digital erasure, before returning to authenticity.
Beauty is not neutral; it is a social currency. By unpacking how these ideals are formed and sustained, Kaleidoscope invites a conversation about autonomy, self-worth, and the courage to be different.
The work draws on:
Social Comparison Theory – How we measure ourselves against others and internalise standards we see online.
Tarot’s Major Arcana – Each portrait embodies an archetype, charting a journey from innocence (The Fool) through distortion and conformity, to self-realisation.
Greek Mythology – Echoes of Narcissus and the dangers of falling in love with a curated reflection.
Themes Explored
Homogenisation of Beauty – Why we are starting to look the same, and what’s lost in that process.
Self-Esteem & Digital Lateral Surveillance – How women enforce beauty standards on each other through platforms like Instagram, Tattle Life, and Reddit snark pages.
The AI Influence – How artificial intelligence learns from altered images, further distorting beauty ideals.
The Role of Women in Enforcing Trends – How industries and influencers perpetuate unattainable standards, often targeting other women.
Return to Individuality – Why rejecting digital perfection can be an act of rebellion.
Each portrait is framed like a mirror, placing the viewer in the position of the subject’s reflection. This creates an intimate confrontation, forcing us to question our own relationship with beauty, identity, and self-image.
Support the project
Support the project
Own a piece of Chimera with my exclusive limited-edition hoodies, designed for those who believe in bold ideas and aren’t afraid to wear them. Every hoodie you purchase directly powers the creation and exhibition of my Master’s project, helping bring these provocative, conversation-starting portraits to life. This is your chance to stand behind an artist challenging beauty, identity, and the way we see ourselves. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Step inside the mirror…
My upcoming exhibition
This October, I’m inviting you to experience Chimera, my Master’s project exploring beauty, identity, and the illusions we create for ourselves. Through a series of large-scale, tarot-inspired portraits, you’ll witness the tension between individuality and the homogenised ideals we’re sold in the digital age.
The exhibition opens Friday 31st October in South Yarra and runs until Thursday 6th November.
Opening night will be an immersive evening of art, conversation, and connection. You’ll be the first to see the full body of work before it tours.
More details are coming soon, but mark your calendar now. This exhibition is a confrontation with the beauty myths we’ve inherited and the ones we keep creating.
