Photographer Brock Elbank has taken an array of beautiful pictures of men and women, of different ages, born with a rare and untreatable skin condition as part of a striking new exhibition. The 'How to Do You C Me Now?' series of photos aims to give a clear message to the world encouraging people 'to love the skin you are in'.The models from around the world, including Rosabella Harrison, seven, from Suffolk, all live with a potentially life-threatening skin condition called congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN).
CMN can cover up to 80 per cent of the body and presents itself in large, dark-brown birthmarks. The exhibition - which is being supported by UK CMN charity Caring Matters Now - has been presented throughout 30 different portrait images, including a black and white shot of a baby You Kang Wum, three, as well as seven-year-old Rosabella Harrison from Southport.
Model Yulianna Yusef, 26 from Ukraine, Callum White, 17 from Gloucestershire, Agnieszka Palyska, 32 from Poland, and Mariana Mendes, 26 from Brazil, are among people photographed up close for the project. Many of the models photographed for the series have never revealed their birthmarks publicly before. The demonstration, which 'challenges conventional perceptions of beauty', will run for 10 days at the Oxo Tower Wharf, in London before touring globally. A spokesperson from Caring Matters Now charity says: 'People with CMN often feel isolated due to the rarity of the condition and have to deal with negative comments because of their visible difference, resulting in low self-esteem. 'How Do You C Me Now? aims not only to improve the self-esteem of the children and adults affected by CMN but also to encourage the public to consider how living with visible differences can add to beauty rather than detract from it'.The 30 portrait images have been taken by photographer Brock Elbank, from London, who focuses on specific physical features.
He is best known for his 'Beard' series which featured 80 bearded individuals and was seen by nearly 40,000 visitors when it was exhibited at Somerset House in 2015. The spokesperson added: 'In a world where people work hard to stand out from the crowd, 'How Do You C Me Now?' aims to celebrate diversity and educate the public about this rare condition'.The 'How to Do You C Me Now?' exhibition launches at the Oxo Tower Wharf, London on 13 March with a private viewing taking place and will open to the public the following day at 10am.
