Gina Heslop
A French photographer named Cyril Crepin has taken on a unique and powerful project. She focuses on photographing individuals who are undergoing facial reconstruction surgery. These surgeries are often necessary due to severe facial injuries, which can dramatically alter a person’s appearance.
In our society, there is a very narrow definition of beauty, often favoring certain physical features while shunning others. This narrow perspective can lead to the rejection of anyone who looks different. People with facial deformities often face discrimination and judgment from those who conform to traditional beauty standards. They may be stared at, pitied, or even ridiculed, which can make their lives incredibly challenging.
Cyril Crepin’s project, titled “Disfiguration Portraits,” aims to challenge these conventional ideas of beauty. She photographs people during the process of facial reconstruction, capturing their faces at various stages of surgery. These images are striking because they force the viewer to confront their own ideas about what is beautiful and what is normal.
Crepin’s intention behind this project is not only to create art but also to open people’s eyes to the beauty that can be found in faces that do not fit the conventional mold. She believes that today’s culture overly values “hyper-lifted” faces, which have been heavily altered to fit a very specific standard of beauty. These altered faces often look similar, losing their uniqueness in the pursuit of perfection.
Many people who have facial deformities wish to remain anonymous. The constant judgment they face from society makes it difficult for them to live a normal life. They may avoid social interactions because they cannot bear the stares and comments from “normal” people. This is a sad reality that Crepin wants to highlight through her work.
One of Crepin’s models, who has since become a friend, shared a painful experience. This person was once approached by a stranger on the street who, upon seeing his face, made a cruel remark: “How can you stay like this? If I were you, I’d put a bullet in my brain.” This kind of thoughtless cruelty is what many people with facial deformities face daily.
Through her photography, Cyril Crepin hopes to change the way people perceive beauty. She encourages viewers to look beyond the surface and see the beauty in every face, no matter how different it may be.
