In this era when makeup has influenced people of all ages, Molly Soda has taken on the internet with her views on the “natural look,” not being natural but rather being layers of artificial makeup. Molly Soda is an artist and internet personality who is known for her work exploring digital culture and identity. In a recent exhibition at the 315 Gallery in Brooklyn, New York, titled “Me and My Gurls,” Soda explored the economy of “looking natural” in the age of social media.

The exhibition featured a series of photographs and videos in which Soda and her friends posed in various settings, often wearing minimal makeup and clothing. The images were accompanied by text reflecting the pressure to appear natural and effortless online.

Soda’s NewHive pieces

Soda’s NewHive pieces often incorporated elements of her personal life and experiences, as well as pop culture references and found images from the internet. Her work on the platform was characterized by a playful and irreverent sensibility and a keen awareness of how digital media shapes our understanding of self and identity.

Soda’s interview with The New York Times

In an interview with The New York Times, Soda explained that the exhibition was partly inspired by her own experiences with social media and the pressure to present a certain image online. “There’s this idea that if you’re not a certain kind of beautiful, then you’re not valuable,” she said. “And that’s what I wanted to explore in the show.”

Soda’s work often deals with themes related to digital identity and the impact of social media on our lives. She has been critical of how social media platforms can create unrealistic expectations and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Her idea of ‘Looking Natural’ in “Me and My Gurls”

In “Me and My Gurls,” Soda and her friends present a counter-narrative to these expectations, embracing their own imperfections and rejecting the idea that they need to look a certain way to be accepted through makeup.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Molly Soda’s recent exhibition at the 315 Gallery in Brooklyn tackled the economy of “looking natural” in the age of social media. Through her photographs and videos, she and her friends presented a counter-narrative to the pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards online, exploring the complexities of digital culture and identity in the process.