The Memorial Union will be casting a new point of view on body image this week. Literally.

Conceptual artist Larry Kirkwood will present “The Body Image Project: Beauty as a Relative Concept” this week in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union. The exhibit, which coincides with Women’s History Month, will display casts of male and female figures varying in size and shape.

“It is an amazing perspective on the human form,” says Penny Rice, director of the Margaret Sloss Women’s Center.

Rice says the casts promote a positive message about body image — something the media don’t do.

“We are not aware of how many times we are hit with negative messages,” Rice says. “The body is a beautiful thing, and the media puts some blame and shame on us, which can lead to eating disorders.”

Kirkwood says many people see a cast of their body and decide it is not as bad as they thought.

“People will look around and think, ‘These don’t look like bodies that would be in Vogue,'” Kirkwood says.

One of the concepts for Kirkwood’s exhibit is how the human form manipulated by the media for commercial use to a point at which people cannot enjoy it.

A second concept is the “visual beauty” of the body and the lack of acceptance of flawed bodies.

The desire for a flawless body is not the only issue Kirkwood hopes his casts will address.

“We are all human beings,” Kirkwood says. “We need to look at our similarities, not differences.”

Age and race are two differences Kirkwood says the casts examine.

“If you think someone is different, then you will treat them differently,” Kirkwood says. “Everybody is prejudiced; to say we are not misses the mark.”

For example, he says, everyone pays the same amount of money to go to school, but not everyone gets paid the same amount.

“We need to realize that life isn’t fair,” Kirkwood says. “However, it can be much better than it is.”

Kirkwood says people need to start looking at the character of a person, and individuals also need to examine how they view themselves as well.

“The concept of beauty is not a contest,” Kirkwood says. “Genetics are different, so it would be a losing battle.”

Out of the 483 people Kirkwood has made casts for, he has received 125 letters from people describing the positive effect this process has had on them.

“I want people to look at themselves in a different way,” Kirkwood says.

“Knowledge is inside of you, and only you know what is best for you.”

Rice says she hopes people come and experience the exhibit, which she believes will be beneficial.

“I want people to reflect on what they believe about themselves and challenge that,” Rice says.

Kirkwood will also be speaking about the project and the issues of body image at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Pioneer Room.

Kirkwood says he feels lucky to even be able to lecture or display his work.

“I am a white guy in a society that favors whites,” Kirkwood says. “If I were a woman or had black skin, I wouldn’t be an artist.”