Bella is a fantastic artist from Rio de Janeiro who now lives in the United States. In this interview, Bella opens up about her journey from being a food photographer to becoming a conceptual artist. She shares how her childhood in Rio and her personal struggles with body image have influenced her art. We also learn how Bella uses various art forms to explore and express complex emotions and societal issues. Her story highlights the power of art to heal, connect, and inspire conversations about self-acceptance and body positivity.

Bella Cardim’s life has always centered around food. The complexities of flavors, textures, and aromas, along with the social etiquettes and cultural rituals surrounding meals, have always intrigued her. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, she experienced a significant duality. On the one hand, the impact of the city’s unique beauty and the joy of its people shaped her personality; on the other hand, the beach culture and the pressure for an “ideal” physical appearance exerted a negative influence, creating an internal conflict that has always accompanied her.

After graduating in Graphic Design, photography became her chosen form of expression. She explored various branches until she incorporated her interest in food into her professional life, becoming a food photographer. In 2019, she moved to the United States to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree. However, before beginning her studies, she experienced an accident that resulted in profound personal trauma. Resorting to familiar behavior, she sought comfort in food, but she soon realized what should have nourished her was suffocating her. As she began her master’s degree, this realization and the geographic and emotional distance from her hometown prompted a career change. Her focus shifted from food photography to contemporary art, and she turned to conceptual art to address the challenges related to her eating disorders and to bring this conversation to the forefront.

Through her artistic practice, she has uncovered hidden narratives, exploring how her cultural, personal, and emotional stories shape her relationship with food and body image. She uses various media in her artistic practice, including photography, sculpture, textile art, and installation, to explore these themes. She creates visual narratives where materiality is crucial in making her emotions tangible. By sharing her story, her goal is to establish a connection with the observer, encouraging them to reflect on their own experiences and engage with the deeper meanings behind our relationship with food, bodies, emotions, and identity.

1. Bella, your journey from commercial food photography to conceptual art is fascinating. Can you share what prompted you to make this shift and how it has impacted your creative vision?

A profound personal transformation drove the shift from commercial food photography to conceptual art. In 2019, exactly three months after moving to the U.S., I faced a traumatic accident that significantly impacted my life and, consequently, my creative vision. Initially, I used my work to cope with the trauma of the accident. However, I learned a funny thing about dealing with traumas: once you open that door, you cannot shut it down. This realization compelled me to address my own long-hidden issues with body image and eating disorders.

Transitioning to conceptual art allowed me to delve into the emotional and psychological aspects of food, body image, and identity. This shift has profoundly impacted my creative vision, enabling me to create raw, honest, and introspective work. My art now serves as a platform for dialogue around emotional eating and self-perception, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationships with food and body image. This journey has enriched my artistic practice, making it more authentic and meaningful.

2. Growing up in Rio de Janeiro, you experienced a mix of the city’s beauty and the pleasure of beach culture. How do these contrasting influences show up in your art?

The city’s beauty and the pleasure of beach culture instilled in me a profound appreciation for natural aesthetics and the human form. However, Rio’s societal pressures and beauty standards also exposed me to the darker side of these ideals, contributing to my struggles with body image. These contrasting influences manifest in my art through a blend of visual beauty and raw introspection. My work often juxtaposes the allure of perfection with the emotional realities of self-perception and eating disorders. I use the vibrant, sensory-rich experiences of Rio as a backdrop to explore themes of identity and societal expectations, creating pieces that invite viewers to question the ideals imposed on them and reflect on their own experiences.

My art serves as a platform for dialogue around emotional eating and self-perception, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own relationships with food and body image.

Bella Cardim

3. You’ve explored emotional eating disorders and excessive consumption in your work. How has your struggle with these issues shaped your art, and what do you hope viewers take away from it?

My personal battles with emotional eating disorders and excessive consumption have deeply influenced my art. These experiences have driven me to create pieces that delve into food and self-image’s emotional and psychological dimensions. By channeling my struggles into my work, I strive to offer an authentic and introspective perspective on these issues. I hope my art prompts viewers to reflect on the pervasive societal pressures related to body image and consumption. By exposing the often-hidden struggles associated with eating disorders, I aim to foster empathy and understanding. I aim for viewers to question societal beauty standards and find a more compassionate and accepting view of their bodies. Through this dialogue, I aspire to contribute to a broader conversation about self-acceptance and healing.

4. Your pieces “Dysmorphia” and “Restrained” received considerable attention at the Florida Biennial. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind these works and what they represent?

“Dysmorphia” and “Restrained” are deeply personal works that stem from my own experiences with body image issues and eating disorders. Dysmorphia, created in 2020, uses photography to explore the impact of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in the digital age. Inspired by the growing pressure to appear flawless online, I used magnifying lenses to distort fruits and vegetables, symbolizing the human body’s diversity and revealing hidden imperfections. This project aims to question societal beauty standards and the relentless pursuit of digital perfection, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own self-image and the influence of technology on their perceptions.

Restrained, created in 2021, is a sculpture made of plaster and red twine that delves into the complex relationship between clothing, food, and my body. Reflecting on my lifelong struggle with eating disorders, this piece represents the feelings of confinement and suffocation imposed by societal expectations. The intertwining threads symbolize the emotional web of struggles related to body image and self-identity. “Restrained” invites viewers to contemplate their journeys with self-perception and the pressures shaping their sense of self. Being selected to exhibit at the Florida Biennial as I was starting my career as a visual artist was an incredible honor. Showing my work alongside renowned artists in my community was a humbling experience and a tremendous encouragement

My goal is for viewers to question societal beauty standards and find a more compassionate and accepting view of their bodies.

Bella Cardim

5. How have the collaborative experiences at “Bolsa de Ficção” and “ConTEXT II” influenced your work and perspective as an artist?

The collaborative experiences at “Bolsa de Ficção” and “ConTEXT II” have profoundly impacted my work and perspective as an artist. Participating in “Bolsa de Ficção” in São Paulo, curated by Ana Roman and Dani Avelar, held special significance for me. Showing my work in Brazil carries a unique weight because it involves expressing emotions I kept hidden for so long. It’s challenging to exhibit in my home country due to the lingering societal pressures I feel there. However, engaging with diverse narratives and artistic approaches in Brazil enriched my understanding of how personal and cultural stories can be interwoven, inspiring me to incorporate more layered and complex narratives into my own work.

At “ConTEXT II” in Boston, curated by Art Fluent, the focus on text-based art and the dialogue between written and visual language expanded my conceptual approach. Winning the “Director’s Choice” award for my piece “I Will Not Be Ashamed of My Body” from the “Writing Lines” series was particularly validating. It reinforced the importance of merging text with visual elements to convey powerful messages about body image and self-acceptance. These experiences have broadened my artistic horizons, encouraging me to experiment with new media and collaborative methods. They have also deepened my commitment to using art as a platform for dialogue and social change, emphasizing the shared human experiences that connect us all.

Bella’s journey from Rio de Janeiro to the United States and from food photography to conceptual art showcases her resilience and growth as an artist. Her art reflects her personal battles and cultural background, offering a powerful look at body image and societal pressures. Her story shows how art can transform lives and bring people together. To learn more about Bella, click the following links to visit her profile.