Behind the Paint: Breast Cancer Won't Beat Us!

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it pertinent to share this beautiful behind the scenes look and feature from The Sunday Express last year, conceived by The Pink Ribbon Foundation UK, and sponsored by both Valspar Paint, and The Sunday Express, and photographed by the very talented Sam Pearce. Taking up the centre pages, this beautiful work created by a team of exceptionally talented individuals, empowered those suffering and surviving breast cancer with true creative aplomb. I was honoured to be a copainter once again with the superbly talented contemporary bodypainter, Filippo Ioco, creator of Ioco Benefits, that lends his bodypainting prowess to multiple charities in need of a creative boost.

Filippo created the gorgeous backdrop for this project, and especially for the occasion, Valspar paint created two brand new shades: Pink Ribbon Care, and Pink Ribbon Support. Each time you purchase one of these, you can make a contribution to Pink Ribbon, and help in the fight against breast cancer.

Due to Covid, shoots like this are currently not going ahead due to safety concerns, and rightly so, but that doesn’t mean we can’t share the joy of the work we’ve created on those who needed the boost the most; surviving breast cancer and going through that process, is one of the hardest things a human being can do in their lifetime, and I’m proud to have taken part in a moment to raise their spirits and demonstrate to them, that despite what they have gone through, they are still strong, powerful and beautiful.

Joining us too was the superbly talented pop artist, Richard Hoffman. His first time to bodypaint, copainting with Richard was an absolute pleasure. Do check out his work, and see the list of the other very talented artists who were part of this incredible team below:

The brave Gina who revealed her inspirational story for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Long may she continue defying her doctor’s diagnosis.

I co-painted Andrew alongside Richard Hoffman as a piece of post treatment pop-art. Contrary to what many people believe, men can actually get breast cancer, currently this statistic stands at 1 percent, but as so many men don’t check their chests, this number could be a sizeable misrepresentation of the true figure. So gentlemen, do make sure to check your chests for any unusual lumps and bumps.

I have so much admiration for Laura for doing this. Life is finite, and I’m glad she is able to embrace new and exciting things while she still can. No matter her diagnosis or curability, she has every right to feel beautiful and powerful.

This was an incredibly brave decision for Fran; doing something that Angelina Jolie did when she found out that she had the same gene responsible for breast cancer. I also created a bodypaint piece some time ago on the BRCA2 gene in The Guardian Science. You can take a look at the article and paints here, or wait for the upload to my site, coming this week for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Helen followed in the same footsteps as Angelina Jolie for peace of mind, and feels so much happier for doing so. Despite Kaz getting a double diagnosis, she is a force to be reckoned with. Check out her instagram here.

Rosemary is still carrying on making her amazing music despite Covid laced adversity.

The diversity of Vickie and Samantha’s stories show just how important it is to both keep being persistent if you think something is wrong, and to also choose the path that’s right for you in your treatment. “Flat is beautiful” is a very powerful statement in contemporary society where women seem to be constantly encouraged to go bigger. I applaud her for making the choice that was right for her.

Just a few of the beautiful memories from the day. Lifting people up and empowering them is one of the main reasons I paint. You can make any issue relevant, humane, and able to be talked about. If you’re worried about breast cancer, you can go to https://nbcf.org.au/about-breast-cancer/detection-and-awareness/how-to-check-for-breast-cancer-symptoms/ to look at signs, symptoms and how to check yourself for any changes that you may be worried about. And men, it affects 1 in 675 of you, so make sure to check yourselves too.

I can’t wait for the time when we can do shoots like these again.

Gugenheim on Channel 4- The Superhuman Body Handbook

“I’ve never felt so sexy, powerful, unique!” - Deb Roach

Due to popular demand, Victoria has released the trailer for the Superhuman Body Handbook paint here, which was the world’s first 3D UV Paint on a disabled champion poledancer.

You can see more of this episode as part of the groundbreaking Rio Paralympics special over on the All4 website, as part of their series on unique and powerful bodies that defy disability stereotypes.

Deb Roach is a world champion pole dancer and member of Extraordinary Bodies, with a difference; she was born without most of her left arm, but that doesn’t hold her back. Through careful guidance and attention to detail, Victoria paints a 3D UV bodypaint piece on her as a way to empower her spirit, give her immense confidence, and also, to create something uniquely beautiful, while taking her out of her comfort zone. Through each brushstroke, more about Deb’s dynamic nature is revealed, the bodypaint being specifically tailored to Roach’s needs- her love of triangles, dynamic, strong shapes and strokes that embody movement are all included to make this beautiful piece a one of a kind experience.

After the 3D makeup was applied, Deb really started coming to life, reveling in the paint.

Artworks like this are some of Victoria’s favourites and are the most rewarding. After creating the piece, Deb Roach was seen running about the London Dance Academy shouting “I don’t want to take (the paint) off!”

To inquire about paints for Film and TV, you’re welcome to use the Experience Gugenheim form. If your inquiry is urgent, please send your inquiry to book@gugenheim.co.uk

Deb roach has been featured across the globe from The International Pole Championships, to Barcroft TV. You can follow Deb Roach’s work here.

Filmed at the London Dance Academy,

See the entire video over on Channel 4

Sponsored by Cameleon Bodypaint

Victoria Creates #99RedBalloons in Solidarity with Perseucuted Atheists at International Secular Humanist Conference

#99RedBalloons was a Protest art installation standing in solidarity with persecuted atheists and blasphemers from across the globe, involving notable atheists including David Silverman of American Atheists.

The first of her protest installations, Victoria Gugenheim wants to carry on making bigger and bolder works of art in solidarity with those persecuted simply for nonbelief.

Each blood red balloon in the installation had the name of an atheist who had been persecuted or killed simply for their nonbelief, along with their reason for conviction and death or persecution date; akin to a toe tag on a cadaver.

The meaning of this was to bring an immediacy to the fact that atheists are persecuted, punished, taken away from their families, and killed accross the world, notably in Islamic states. But when a problem happens overseas, it's all too easy for people to see the problem as problem "over there". When one is holding something linking them to the event, it creates an immediacy; evidenced by one of the attendees breaking down crying at the "power of the protest". Another ended up holding a balloon with the tag of his friend on it: he found out on that night, that his friend had been assassinated.

Victoria believes that these pieces of work are vital in creating empathy and solidarity with those suffering under oppressive regimes, and that they encourage others to take action in fighting for the rights of people to not believe in any religion, with much more of her works coming up relating to this.

See her personal account of the work over on her instagram.


Watch the video here, or check out the photo's of the event below.

Gugenheim Takes Triple Residency

14-7-2017

Gugenheim Takes Triple Residency

Victoria Gugenheim has been made the resident Artist of CEMB, One Law For All, and The International Secular Humanist Conference. Her artwork has now extends to public protest art, body art en masse, and much more.

New Exhibitions Set until 2021

11-7-2017

NEW EXHIBITIONS SET UNTIL 2021

International exhibitions and tours are now set until 2021, with new artworks and projects being announced regularly. Check the exhibitions page for further details.

"The Protector" - A piece reinvisioning the idea of Kali as a maternal superhero, patrolling the streets of Manhattan at night.
Special Thanks: Garou Graphics

Gugenheim Made Resident Judge of Gibraltar Face and Bodypainting Festival

8-7-2017

Victoria is now the resident judge, public demo artist and masterclass runner of The Gibraltar Bodypainting Festival, and a member of the Gibraltar Bodypainting Association. After a resounding success in 2017, Victoria is excited at what this new residency can achieve in partnership with the Gibraltar Cultural Association.

 

You can check out Gibraltar's annual face and bodypainting festival here