An artist has revealed how easy it is to transform the human body simply by employing different poses.



In her striking photo project Illusions of the Body, Gracie Hagen's subjects go from sexy to awkward simply by hunching their shoulders, sticking their stomachs out and contorting their bodies.

She writes on her website that she created the series in order to 'tackle the supposed norms of what we think our bodies are supposed to look like.'

Transformation: In her striking photo project Illusions of the Body, Gracie Hagen's subjects go from pretty to awkward simply by hunching their shoulders, sticking their stomachs out and contorting their bodies

Unconventional: She writes on her website that she created the series in order to 'tackle the supposed norms of what we think our bodies are supposed to look like'

New perspective: She added that she hopes juxtaposing a person's flattering portrait with an unflattering one will 'help a lot of body image issues we as a culture have'

She added that she hopes juxtaposing a person's flattering portrait with an unflattering one will ' help a lot of body image issues we as a culture have.'

In one of the side-by-side images, a red-headed woman first arches her back and looks over her shoulder, striking a pose that makes her waist appear narrow and her breasts full.



For her unflattering pose, she hunches her shoulders over and puffs out her stomach, contorting her face and reaching her arms awkwardly behind her.

The difference between the two photos - which are taken in exactly the same light and from the same angle - is staggering and could easily be mistaken for portraits of two different women.

Unique: 'Celebrate your shapes, sizes and the odd contortions your body can get itself into,' the photographer writes on her website. 'The human body is a weird and beautiful thing'

Unrecognizable: The differences between the photos - which are taken in exactly the same light and from the same angle - is staggering and could easily be mistaken for portraits of two different women

Diversity: The photos depict a variety of body shapes, ages and ethnicities to show that 'there is no

In another set of photos, a woman juts her hip out and wraps her arms around her body, looking strong and feminine as she gazes upwards.

But what was a womanly body in the first photo is transformed into a childlike one in the second, where she hunches her shoulders forward and dangles her arms awkwardly in front of her.

' Celebrate your shapes and contortions - the human body is a weird and beautiful thing'

While her physique appeared curvy in the first photo, the side-on angle in the second photo makes her look slim and without curves.

The photo project depicts a variety of body shapes, ages and ethnicities to show that 'there is no "normal"', and to demonstrate what an incredible difference a particular pose can make, no matter what you look like.

It is also aimed at opening people's eyes to how the media can skew our perceptions of body image.

Varying angles: The photos demonstrate what an incredible difference a pose change can make, no matter what you look like

Eye-opening: She hopes the striking contrast will 'help a lot of body image issues we as a culture have'

Artistic series: Each of the photos was taken in the exact same light, from the same angle

'Most of us realize that the media displays only the prettiest photos of people,' the photographer writes on her website. 'Yet we compare ourselves to those images.

' We never get to see those photos juxtaposed against a picture of that same person looking unflattering. That contrast would help a lot of body image issues we as a culture have.'