The defiance of anorexia

 

7-Defi jane copie

copyright Alice ODILON june 2009. "Défi-Jane". Tous droits réservés.

 

As a photographer and as an anorexic woman photographer,

I've always used expressionists ways, and border-line ways to express myself with my photographs since 1977.

I didn't choose the easy way, the aseptic way, the fashion way to tell the implacable illness I had to deal with,

and the exceptional gift of anorexia: sharp-eye, acute lucidity, specific search in the Absolute.

At the age of 17, I began my self-portraits, without fear and superficiality, trying to connect with my authentic life.

It was in 1982, my first exhibition in Galerie 666, rue Maître Albert, Paris 4ème, was a time bomb,

because nobody told about anorexia, expect Valérie Valère or Sheila MacLeod and Julia Kristeva.

The secret language of anorexia became public and it was the first time, anorexic self-portraits

were showed in a Gallery (Galerie 666 – PARIS ) in the world. (Gallery closed in 1988).

 

Today many pseudo artists play with the subject which has became a growth niche.

And now the subject is sterilized and covered up with esthetic commercial pictures they're sold in Art fairs.

But the tortured soul of anorexia is still here and stays helpless and uncontrollable.

I tried to "enter" my work on wikipedia in order to participate to the "community".

I was immediatly rejected, because I work on the reasons of anorexia and not on the effects.

 

In addition of this, I've watched a program on TV about Stockholm solution in a specialized clinic

 

for anorexic daughters of wealthy families, which was the perfect demonstration of a growth business.

 

That's only industry, diet clinic industry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_zajjRbyEo&feature=related

 

I've seen pictures made by deutsch photographer Yvonne Thein.

 

[These pictures were "intended as a mocking and satirical take on pro-ana".

But these pictures have been nevertheless used as inspiration by anorexic persons. Wikipedia ]

That means for me, these double edged pictures equivocate deliberately.

 

Because I think this photographer is in love with anorexic allure.

When I took a close look about these pictures, I realized they were a plagiary of my work: " Series BM1-BM2 and BN" from february 2008.

http://www.aliceodilon.com/Pages/Alice%20Odilon%20Images%202008%20BN.html

http://www.aliceodilon.com/Pages/Alice%20Odilon%20Images%202008%20BM1.html

 

The obvious plagiary is flagrant.

She just copied my pictures.

She stole ideas, style, form, look and feel, identity of my work, my author's rights with her total witting plagiary of my work.

For me the reason of this big mistake is she's not anorexic and she speaks about something she doesn't know.

She just used the symbol of extreme sharp thinness and the shield of virginity and beauty of "blé en herbe" because

she deeply, aspired to this buried, concealed estheticism. There is only a question of myth of inaccesible abstract beauty.

In my opinion, if she wanted to denounce pro-ana websites, she had to show real body of anorexic persons and not this soft,

clean, coquettish "verdict".

Because the reality of anorexic body is:

( Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_nervosa)

 

 

Stunted growth

Endocrine disorder, leading to cessation of periods in females (amenorrhoea)

Decreased libido; impotence in males

Reduced metabolism, slow heart rate (bradycardia), hypotension,

orthostatic hypotension, hypothermia, inappropriate sinus tachycardia and anemia

Abnormalities of mineral and electrolyte levels in the body

Thinning of the hair

Growth of lanugo hair over the body

Constantly feeling cold

Constipation

Abnormalities of mineral and electrolyte levels

Zinc deficiency

Potassium deficiency

Refeeding syndrome

Reduction in white blood cell count

Reduced immune system function

Pallid complexion and sunken eyes

Patulous eustachian tube

Creaking joints and bones

Osteoporosis

Collection of fluid in ankles during the day and around eyes during the night or peripheral oedema

Tooth decay

Dry skin

Dry or chapped lips

Poor circulation (cool peripheries), resulting in common attacks of 'pins and

needles' (Parathesia)and purple extremities


with a constant terrible suffering overwhelming body and soul.

 

Superficiality is not proper.

Alice ODILON

 

2- June copie

copyright Alice ODILON June 2009 – "Crutch" . tous droits réservés. No clone is free.

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Help for abused Women

Only one’s own experience can find an echo in others.

I was born with anorexia as an unwelcome gift, I had no choice but to live with it.

I was likely to be "at risk", so, at 17, I ran away, I left home which was not a home for me, but a sort of hell.

Cold and destructive.

I worked as cleaner, sales assistant, to pay my Art studies during 5 years.

Art was my life’s sole objective.

I could never have survived without this all consuming and focused passion.

This Art (photography) was stronger than any form of addiction; it gave me a crucial sense of life.

However I remained a person at risk: likely to fail, fall, and lose myself, because I was gifted with

a heightened sensitivity and a very acute perception, which, in a certain way was very dangerous for me.

When I was 32, I met evil in the form of a narcissistic pervert who, for 3 years, transformed my life into slavery.

I’m convinced, because I was an anorexic person, eating-disorder person, I was susceptible to becoming a victim

of a manipulator, a woman beater.

 

 

This outcome was a near scientific fatality as all in me was able to connect with perdition, addiction, slavery.

Now I’m 49 and I’ve been born a second time.

Thanks to Art I have woken up and it has helped me to sit up literally.

It seems simple like that but life can be very painful when one is the victim of someone who is stronger.

My great good luck comes from my rebel side that nobody can kill.

Inside us all we need a little place of light, very strong, virtually in contradiction with the sad rest of us.

In this way we already have the tools to survive, even in the worst of times.

Antablog has been created to answer all sorts of questions that anorexics, abused persons,

or runaways frequently ask.

A sort of FAQ.

This blog is for us, for you, especially if you’re in the dark at this stage.

All the best.

Alice ODILON.

This information is provided for guidance only and you are strongly recommended to seek suitable expert advice and help ASAP, if you’re in danger.

www.womanabuseprevention.com/html/emotional_abuse.html

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Antarchives

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Anorexia helps to survive

 

Alice Odilon 1982-F-5         

copyright Alice ODILON: 1982 / self portrait.

I've suffered from anorexia from the age of 7.
 
Honestly without anorexia, I wouldn’t be here anymore, as this illness kept me alive instead

of regressing to a quicker death.
 
It was a sort of survival behaviour and not a lifestyle as it said in a number of anti-ana magazines.
 
The question is not to denounce anorexia as a crime, but to denounce the reasons of anorexia
 
(Child abuse, woman abuse, violence against women, domestic violence,
 
parental conflicts, witnessing of declining health of relatives because of alcohol, drugs,

prostitution, sexual slavery,

incurable diseases….
 
All people suffering from anorexia have been victims of a lack of love from one of their parents,
 
of violence in different ways, indifference, abuse, emotional abuse, rape, torture,
 
schizophrenia of  mother or  father, loneliness, perversion of adults, contact with death

of loved ones,  emotional shock….
 
Many anorexic people speak about their pain and fear they had to deal with in childhood,
 
and about the only solution being to reject any feelings, emotions, just to keep breathing in silence.
 
Anorexia masks the horror of certain home lives.
 
Anorexia helps one to forget the feeling of failure, of sadness, of distress, low self-esteem

caused by abuse or lack of love.
 
The extreme perceptiveness of anorexic people is calmed down by the illness.
 
Then the pain can be controlled, in order to stay alive.
 
We can compare this resilience to other addictions, obsessions, compulsions,
 
or excessive psychological dependence, such as: drug addiction (e.g. alcoholism), crime,

domestic slavery, money, work addiction, problem gambling, computer addiction,

nicotine addiction, plastic surgery addiction, etc.
 
Anorexia rescues persons in danger of extreme psychological sufferings,

as alcohol helps to avoid feeling fear, or long misery….
 

Alice Odilon 1985-N-6

Copyright Alice ODILON 1985 "Ma Belle Morte".

Playing dead was the only way to stay alive.

www.aliceodilon.com

 

An alcoholic person doesn't drink to be an alcoholic but to keep going in the hell of reality.
 
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_mechanism

We have to think about the suffering of many people unable to deal with the merciless,

unkind, unforgiving human society.
 
We have to change this heartless society.
 
Alice ODILON
  

 

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Une hirondelle en cellule

 

 

Le mardi 13 juillet 2010, Akan est descendue à la ville pour chercher les

médicaments dont elle est accoutrée depuis quelques années.

Fluoxetine, Atarax, Temazepan lui servent de boulet pour la tenir en vue, en probation.

Akan les admet avec impuissance et crédulité, pour "aller mieux".

Cependant le pharmacien ne trouve pas les drogues commandées et convaint

notre héroïne de revenir dans 3 jours.

Déçue d'avoir été oubliée encore une fois, Akan se rend au centre commercial

dans le but de se délester de son malaise en soustrayant d'un étalage

un objet encore inconnu d'elle même et symbolisant le réconfort, les caresses d'une mère

invisible.

- Un objet étalon de son manque et fétiche de sa victoire sur la douleur du manque.

Elle s'engage sans aucune détermination, sans énergie, avec l'envie compulsive d'être

enregistrée par une caméra de surveillance capturant l'évidence de l'offense.

Peut-être aura-t'elle la chance de se faire arrêtée par la police,

seule à même de noter son existence minuscule, sa trajectoire kamikaze.

Elle se sent vieille, laide, désespérément triste, finie.

Son corps maigre et trop veiné ne retient plus les regards en arrière.

Si des yeux la remarquent c'est pour juger de sa gracilité quasi cachectique.

Avant les hommes se retournaient sur son passage tant elle était jeune, racée, élégante.

Aujourd'hui, malgré la même silhouette, l'élégance innée, les gens ne la remarquent plus,

car elle a vieilli et cela lui vaut d'être transparente, insignifiante.

Les hommes ne cherchent que la chair adolescente appelante, celle qui promet des délices

les plus interdits.

Le visage ne compte plus dans ces rues où la survie de l'espèce passe avant tout language.


Le 13 de ce mois d'été est la veille d'anniversaire de la jeune fille au tatouage,

et Akan n'arrive pas à gérer cette date, tant les liens qui l'unissent

à la gamine tombent à terre dans des flaques d'eau.

Ce lien secret aurait dû aider Akan à vivre et assumer la réalité, mais il enlève

toute vie, toute joie, toute paix.

L'enfant au bras tatoué l'a reniée, rayée de son vocabulaire affectif et lui

fera payer le prix d'avoir été une mère anorexique photographe.

Akan ne pensait pas qu'un jour sa fille aînée la trahirait, lui reprocherait d'être

une artiste et sa mère en même temps.

Aujourd'hui les rêves de pérennité et d'immortalité se sont effondrés, plus rien

ne sera plus comme avant.

Akan sait désormais que son oeuvre sera oubliée.

 

L'hirondelle sait que tout est perdu.


Cette conviction toute fraîche donne naissance à un chagrin angoissé, venant de nulle part

et s'installant comme un smog aveuglant.

Il arrive qu'une branche assassine son arbre.

 

 

"Il arrive qu'une branche assassine son arbre". Copyright Alice ODIlON


Alors Akan entre dans un store de produits de beauté et s'empare d'un panier rouge

en plastique qu'elle remplit de laits pour le corps, de masques hydratants, de crèmes de nuit, 

de crèmes anti-rides, de lotions anti-âge et sort du magasin avec allure et détermination,

passant les portes de sécurité, en déclenchant une alarme foudroyante.

Les heures suivantes Akan est au poste de police, confrontée à des interrogatoires,

des prises d'empreintes, d'ADN, des flashs de caméras, des heures en cellule vide.

 

 

 

L'hirondelle captive.

 

Pendant cet après-midi là elle s'apaise enfin dans ce nouvel enfermement la retenant au monde,

lui disant, "tu existes car tu as transgressé la loi".

Tu as été remarquée, entendue, ton cri a été entendu.

Et cette prison vaut tous les bras humains par le silence et la paix.

Son corps maigre devient vivant dans cette cellule apparemment vide et cependant

pleine de cris et de colères passées, de peurs et de regrets.

Akan se rend compte de sa propre réalité humaine.

Elle admet cette prisonnière en elle.

Ses mains, ses bras longs et fins, ses genoux osseux, tout son corps devient une sculpture

vivante et profonde et Akan découvre sa vérité la plus solide.


Akan feels very bad on the 13th of july 2010 in the afternoon,

unable to deal with anything around her.

Her body has been suffering the last hours; the exhaustion caused by the insomnia

and the lack of fluoxetine, has grown for the worse, to give birth

to a dark absent mood, and endless sadness.

Akan comes down to the city to purchase drugs she has been using for a few years.

Fluoxetine, Atarax, Temazepan are prescribed to her to control her mind.

She admits them with impotence and credulity, "to getting better".

However the pharmacist does not find the ordered drugs and convinces

our heroin for returning in 3 days.

Disappointed to be forgotten once again, Akan goes to the shopping mall

with an aim of relieve herself from her terrible faintness by withdrawing

a displayed unknown item, symbolizing the peace, the safety,

the caresses of an invisible mother.

- An object symbol of her lack and fetish of her victory over the pain of confusion – .

Akan enters in the huge commercial gallery without any determination and any energy,

with the compulsive desire to be recorded by a CCTV camera capturing

the obviousness of the offend.

Perhaps will she have chance to be stopped by the police force,

the only one able to notice her tiny existence, her kamikaze path.

She feels old, ugly, hopelessly sad, finished.

Her thin body does not retain any more the glances behind.

If eyes notice her it is to judge her cachectic slenderness ratio.

Before the men were turned over on her passage as she was young, racée, elegant. 

Today, in spite of the same silhouette, innate elegance,

people do not notice her any more, because she is mature

and for them she's worth to be transparent, unimportant.

The men seek only the appealing teenager flesh, that

which promises most prohibited delights.

 

The face does not count any more in these streets where the survival

of the species passes above all language.

The 13 of July is the day before the birthday of the young tattooed girl,

and Akan does not manage this date, so much the bonds which link her to the "gamine"

fall to ground in puddle pools water.

This secret bond should have helped Akan to live and assume reality,

but it removes any life, any joy, any peace.

The child with the tattooed arm has disavowed her, striped her of her emotional vocabulary

and will make her pay the price to have been an anorexic photographer mother.

Akan would not have thinking that one day her oldest daughter would betray her,

would reproach her to be an artist and her mother at the same time.

Today dreams of immortality crumble, nothing will not be the same.

Akan knows from now on that her work will be forgotten.

This very fresh conviction gives rise to a distressed sorrow,

coming from nowhere like a plugging smog.

It happens that a branch assassinates its tree.

 

 

 

Then Akan enters in a store of beauty products and takes

a red plastic basket that she  fills of milks for the body,

hydrating masks, creams of night, anti-wrinkle creams, lotions anti-age

and then leaves the store without attempt to pay, passing the security doors

by setting off a striking down alarm.

The following hours Akan stands at the police station, confronted with interrogations,

flashes of cameras, hours in blank cell.

During this afternoon she finally finds relieve in this new retreat into silence

retaining her far from the world, telling her, "you exist because you transgressed the law".

You have been noticed, heard, your scream has been heard.

And this jail is worth all the human arms by silence and peace.

Her thin body becomes alive in this apparently empty cell

and however full with cries and passed angers, fear and regrets.

Akan realizes her own human reality.

She admits this captive inside her.

Her hands, her long and fine arms, her bony knees, all her body becomes

a human sculpture and Akan discovers her main genuine truth.

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