ARTS DISTRICT — Voluptuous Creativity in Art, Style and Body Image
Exploitation or appreciation? Could it be difficult to tell the difference? Take for instance a modern Venus who’s also a creative leader in the powerful cause of healing and self-actualization through artistic expression: When we first happened to run into CoCo in the elevator of Hope+Flower in the South Park district of Downtown L.A., we couldn’t help but notice an artist who was beaming with enthusiasm, charisma and caring. In an interview, we’ve learned that Coco has benefitted from an entire life exposed from a young age to art culture thanks to her aunt, who was an art major at California Polytechnic State University. Then just five years old, little CoCo was invited to go with her aunt to classes. This powerful exposure helped to instill in a her a philosophy to always take art seriously. Now, as an artist herself, CoCo uses art to inspire others, and to express herself in the most authentic way possible.
CoCo says, “Sometimes we have a lot of internal things that go on inside of us that cannot be expressed through words or generic communication. Art enables expression of our deepest emotions — along with healing people through translation of emotions.”
The Artist and Body Image
Unwanted experiences also contributed to shaping CoCo. Walking through the halls of high school, boys would sometimes grab CoCo’s butt and run away. She had a voluptuous body naturally as teenager. She got so much attention about her body, it took time to understand that she was different. She was hyper-sexualized at a young age, leading to insecurites about herself. Many people loved and revered her body, but others fomented a spectacle. After these good and bad experiences, CoCo learned of a notable woman in hisotory named Sarah Baartman, the “Hottentot Venus”. During the 1700s, when slavery was in full swing amid the infancy of the United States, the original South African KhoiKhoi (although a free woman) still found herself enduring colonial era exploitation, racism, ridicule and commodification of black people. Due to European fascination with her substantial levels of tissue on the buttocks and thighs, Sarah was exploited, displayed like a circus freak sideshow. CoCo learned of Bartman’s fate, and found the Hottentot Venus to have parallels to CoCo’s own personal journey to embrace her body, to accept it how it is. Taking it to the next level, she paints fashion logo iconography and voluptuous body shapes on canvas for patrons.
Seeing an alarming explosion of body modifications in Los Angeles today gave CoCo a realization through all of the years of being reduced to mere spectacle by half, yet highly revered by the other half of culture. Noticing that so many individuals try so hard to achieve satisfaction with their bodies by getting surgeries, butt injections et cetera, CoCo recognized the unhealthiness in artificial approaches, which often backfire. The healthy approach is to accept one’s body first, and then to maintain and to improve one’s beloved body. Too many cannot accept their own bodies as they are. People want something better. To help satisfy our insatiable longings, CoCo has created the “Love Your Body” series of paintings depicting exaggerated bottom and other abstract images. Also, the “Rainbow Booty” paintings were started in May of 2021 specifically for the LBGT community. The abstract backdrop pride flag elements of very conceptual emphasized curvaceous body, a hidden message to LGBT individuals to love their bodies.
Juicy Queen CoCo, the Model “It’s about helping people — encouraging people through art to love their bodies no matter what shape or size — super skinny or big, you gotta love it.” Coco teaches that we must love and accept where we are now, and still get to a better place.
Inquired about the state of world affairs and today’s social issues, CoCo was asked about whether the Duchess of Sussex actress Megan Markle is a whining rich girl, or if she has legitimate issues that warrant the sympathy of the public, and perhaps righting of wrongs by the royal family. CoCo responds, expressing the feeling that Markle has landed in a difficult and peculiar situation that involves real pain: “Meghan has not been accepted fully and completely. Oppression and racism exist, often unconsciously and subconsciously.” CoCo believes that Markle’s emotional health is in jeopardy, and the life of a duchess can be filled with substantial difficulties.
Life at Hope + Flower, recently called “The best apartments in Downtown Los Angeles” by the L.A. Loft Blog: CoCo says, “I like it!” She moved from New York City about seven years ago. She chose Hope and Flower for the security of the building, pool sauna and community common area spaces where she can entertain or relax. She appreciates the modern luxury with an urban feel. The high-rise tower rental residences work well for CoCo and her lifestyle.
The Future: CoCo has begun experimenting with creating digital versions of her artwork in the form of NFT Non-Fungible Tokens with MakersPlace.com
Visionary Entrepreneur – Juicy Queen CoCo services for clients relate to uplifting spaces, customizing with art, expressing lifestyle and authentic expression in homes. CoCo creates beautiful spaces through her art, as well as custom pieces from fellow artists. She works with some of the best artists in the world. Today, the visionary entrepreneur focuses on creativity-boosting entertainment, offering paint parties. Her Pleasant Paint private Puff and Paint parties are a popular, fun and healing way to entertain friends for birthdays etc. The group event helps new painters at all levels to go on a cool, new cannabis experience. For a limited time, CoCo is extending a special offer for L.A. Loft Blog readers: $200 OFF Puff and Paint
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