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InspirationPhotography

Layers: A blooming celebration of womanhood through photographic portraiture

For their collaborative project Layers, photographer Asiko, floral designer Jo Wise and makeup artist Jade Soar joined forces to produce a beautiful collection of 20 photographic portraits celebrating the different stages of a woman’s life.

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All images copyright: [Asiko](http://www.asiko.co.uk/). Courtesy of Islington Arts Factory.

All images copyright: Asiko. Courtesy of Islington Arts Factory.

Women from various backgrounds, aged between 19 and 90 years, were photographed in front of an evolving flower wall during a three-week period – including a scientist, a Team GB gold medal winner, a journalist, a musician, an artist and a writer. Layers of freshly picked British flowers were added to the wall as the project progressed. The added layers represented the growth and depth of wisdom women gain as life progresses, while ageing flowers indicate the passage of time.

Soar explains: "We've chosen women who – regardless of their newsworthiness – are strong role models for the younger generation."

Wise added: "The common thread that runs through all of the women is their belief in their path and their pride in who they are and what they do. Jade and I are old friends, we had shared views on the adulation of female youth within the media and wanted to work on a project that offered a counter story to that. We wanted to create something beautiful that celebrated all women.

"Asiko is an art photographer who's worked with Jade, and I admired so we were thrilled when he commented on an image that Jade and I had created on Instagram. We immediately contacted him and met up. The concept of Layers was created during that meeting. We all felt strongly about a pro-women project that explored the passing of time, inner growth and how our connection to nature changes as we grow older.

"We selected our models by asking women we admired. We wanted to show real women as they really are, no airbrushing or over-styling. We wanted an authenticity to shine through the portraits, we didn't want a polished look. We wanted faces that could tell a story."

Layers will be exhibited at The Winter Pride Art Awards 2016 at the Islington Arts Factory from 15th to 22nd April 2016. Find out more at www.winterprideuk.com.

Person with short dark hair and a tattoo on their arm stands in profile against a lush flower wall of pink, white and yellow blooms
Woman with long blonde hair wearing a pendant necklace, positioned in front of a lush floral backdrop of white, pink and deep purple flowers
Woman in profile wearing a black head wrap and hoop earrings stands in front of a lush flower wall of pink, white and cream blooms
Woman with long braided hair wearing black, photographed in profile against a lush floral backdrop of pink, white and cream blooms for the Layers project
Woman wearing a tan turtleneck with curly brown hair against a floral wall of pink, purple and cream flowers
Woman with long dark hair wearing a grey t-shirt posed in front of a vibrant floral wall of purple, yellow, orange, red and white flowers
Woman with long blonde hair wearing a blue top against a vibrant floral backdrop of yellow, purple, white and deep red blooms
Woman with long dark hair wearing a grey knit top, positioned in front of a lush flower wall of dried blooms in deep reds, purples, yellows and whites
Pregnant woman in a grey shirt with hand on belly, posed against a lush floral backdrop of purple, orange, pink and cream flowers
Woman in pale shirt gazes towards camera against a lush floral backdrop of yellow, cream, burgundy and purple flowers in varying stages of bloom
Woman with black braided hair and fringe wearing black jacket, positioned in front of a floral wall of yellow, purple, cream and burgundy flowers
Woman in rust-coloured blouse gazes downward against a backdrop of vibrant autumn flowers in orange, yellow and deep red tones
Woman with dark hair and fringe smiling at the camera, wearing a patterned jacket with navy and lime green colours, positioned in front of a dense floral wall of autumn-coloured dried and fresh flowers
Woman in striped shirt posed against an archway of dried and fresh flowers in shades of orange, red and gold for the Layers portrait project
Woman in a gold and black striped jacket standing against a dense floral wall of multicoloured dried and fresh flowers in shades of orange, yellow, purple and burgundy
Woman in a bright red coat with black buttons looking downward, standing in front of a dark floral wall of autumn-toned flowers and foliage.
Woman with grey hair wearing a vibrant patterned jacket stands against a lush floral backdrop of fresh and dried flowers in warm tones
Elegant older woman in a yellow knit jacket and pearl necklace posed against a lush floral backdrop of green foliage and autumn-coloured flowers
Older woman with long grey hair wearing a black embroidered waistcoat and cream roll-neck, positioned in front of a lush wall of green foliage and orange flowers
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