Curvy women bare all to recreate Pink Floyd's famous 'Back Catalogue' poster
Six curvy women have taken it all off to recreate Pink Floyd’s iconic 1997 “Back Catalogue” poster.
More than 20 years ago, English rock band Pink Floyd released a poster promoting their compilation of hits. The imagery showcased some of the band’s album covers painted onto the bare backs of models. Since then, the widely recognized poster of six nude women seated poolside with their backs as album art canvases has circulated around the world. Now, a group of women are paying tribute to the poster by recreating it with an inclusive twist: they are all plus-size.
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Model Jessica Sweeney was inspired to reinterpret the 1997 poster featuring curvy women, and it was produced by plus-size online platform Style and Curve. The masterpiece includes six curvy women and displays the work of two body painters and one photographer. Over the course of 11 hours, the team worked nonstop to do justice to the original “Back Catalogue” poster, bringing a more diverse message to the 2018 recreation.
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New York-based model Laura Lee was one of the six women who posed for the photo. She tells Yahoo Lifestyle the vulnerability of being naked for the project allowed the group of women to form an immediate bond.
“It was truly amazing. Seeing each piece come to life with every stroke of the brush was so incredible to watch. Some were nervous, but we pushed each other, and the conversations that manifested that day were so uplifting and empowering,” she says. “We laughed, we cried, and we danced. The final product was very emotional! And when you watch the video, you will see the sparkle in each of us and the bond that we all share. We can do anything!”
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For more than five hours, professional body painters Kellie Burrus and Sheila Jordan meticulously designed and copied the art of each album onto the women’s backs. From left to right, the Pink Floyd albums represented are Atom Heart Mother, Relics, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, The Wall, and Animals.
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Burrus tells Yahoo Lifestyle it was important to her to be a part of the project to bring a different type of beauty than the original piece did. She adds, “Seeing more images with women who are fuller figured shows women of all shapes and sizes that you don’t have to fit one particular body type to be beautiful and create an image that everyone can appreciate and enjoy.”
The images and video were shot in New York City at the studio of photographer Karina Poltavtseva, better know as Karizza. Originally from Ukraine, Karizza has worked as a fashion photographer for decades, but two years ago she decided to focus her work on body positivity and curvy women.
“I really want to make revolution and with my projects help and inspire people all over the world to feel confident, beautiful, needed, and show them that not only skinny models can be successful,” she says. “[Back home] curvy girls don’t have a chance for anything and parents since childhood keep telling them that they will never marry because nobody likes ‘big girls.’ I had that experience fighting with beauty standards and not being accepted, so it is time to change it and give hope to girls.”
And her message is resonating with people online. The image has gathered thousands of likes and comments.
“I had this poster when I was in college!! One of my favorites but you ladies definitely improved it,” wrote a fan. “Awesome idea, awesome pic, awesome band! Love it!” added another.
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