«I felt quite exposed in sharing what has been a vulnerable journey for me with the world,» explains illustrator Rachel Sender referring to her project Lumps and Bumps. A series of illustrations that explores the changes of the body over time. The title suggests in both the words and the font what the artist will address throughout the pages of her sketchbook. A woman – the protagonist of the entire project – looks at her body and her face in the mirror, inspects it writhing, glorifies it by exhibiting it. Wrinkles, hair, cellulite, sagging skin, all extremely normal conditions are here taken to the extreme with a subtle irony that tends to break down a subject – sadly – still taboo, especially for women.
Accepting the changing body is something Rachel Sender experiences on her own skin with no small amount of discomfort, as she explains. Lumps and Bumps becomes an opportunity to share her thoughts on the subject, bringing to light “the delicate balance between hiding and showing off“. If on the one hand hiding, covering and bumping seem obligatory actions to conform to society’s standards, on the other hand excessive ostentation also seems exaggerated in the eyes of most, but here, with Rachel Sender’s illustrations, it becomes an inspiration. Her affectionate humour is reflected in the drawings and words cuddling the viewers, suggesting light-heartedness and freedom on such a delicate subject.
Rachel Sender: Sketches for Lumps and Bumps (Copyright © Rachel Sender, 2023)
