A make-up artist who was accused of racial insensitivity after appearing to transform a white woman into a woman of colour has refused to offer an apology for their “artwork” and what they found “beautiful”.
Instagram account PaintDatFace said the original post – which they had deleted but recently reuploaded – had been misinterpreted and criticised by though who “don’t understand the message”.
They wrote: “The transformation that I recently posted of a woman transformed into a woman of another culture has been highly criticised by those who don’t understand the message.
“I deleted the post, not because I had regret or saw wrongdoing, but because of the negativity social media turned it into.”
PaintDatFace said people assumed their intention was to transform the model into a black woman when in fact, they had taken inspiration from their own heritage and hoped to keep the model racially ambiguous.
#paintdatface What you did is called Blackface. So you're bored? Read a book! We are not a fashion you put on and take off when convenient.
— Jem (@JemClassic) May 30, 2017
“Truth is, my intentions were to keep the look vague enough to be relatable to many women of different cultures, but the true inspiration of the overall look came from my Cuban heritage.”They continued: “Although I am saddened by how many people are angered, I can’t offer an apology for my artwork and for what I find to be beautiful. The transformation came from a place of love and was not about mocking one’s race, but rather about celebrating it.“I am so proud to be illustrating a woman representing several cultures along with their achievements, beliefs and histories. Art is interpreted differently by all and sometimes it’s uncomfortable, but making this world a better place starts with our mindset – thinking positive, showing love and practising unity.”
#paintdatface if it wasn't about race you wouldn't have needed a four page long disclaimer
— Leila Ellis-Nelson (@DrEllisNelson) May 29, 2017
The make-up artist had initially posted the look alongside a disclaimer in which they described themselves as an “artist and visionary” explaining they had grown bored of the glam make-up looks.
They had written: “This is a transformation that I’ve been holding back from releasing for a while now, solely because of the fear I’ve had of people turning it into a racial scandal against me.
“THIS IS NOT ABOUT A RACE CHANGE. This is about one woman acknowledging, embracing, and celebrating the beauty of another woman’s culture.”
