0003 – Holy Sinners

This project breaks stereotypes about holiness, showing that behind the image of a “righteous believer” are ordinary people with the same routines and struggles as everyone else. A nun eats fast food, a priest scrolls through TikTok, someone gets a tattoo, and another poses for a fashion shoot.

“Sacred on the outside, human on the inside“
Faith is eternal. Temptation is daily

References

The Concept

In general, the main idea regardless of profession, status, or role, all people share the same social, financial, family, and personal struggles. The nun is simply a visual metaphor, a striking and instantly recognizable way to illustrate this universal truth.

This project explores the contrast between societal expectations and reality, revealing that behind the image of morality and spirituality are ordinary people with their own weaknesses, habits, and routines. Holiness is often perceived as something detached from everyday life, but in reality, those considered moral role models live just like everyone else. They eat fast food, scroll through social media, follow fashion, or even get tattoos.

We create a visual story that blurs the line between dogma and real life. What matters more—the image or the actions? Can someone be holy while still enjoying life’s simple pleasures? This project provokes but does not condemn, challenges perceptions but does not provide a definitive answer. It reminds us that every person carries both a spiritual and earthly side.

Why Does This Project Matter?

This project challenges deep-rooted perceptions of morality and spirituality, forcing us to reconsider the divide between personal faith and everyday life. Society often places unrealistic expectations on certain individuals, assuming they exist above human desires, struggles, and pleasures. By revealing the ordinary habits of those viewed as symbols of purity, we question whether true virtue lies in external appearances or in the complexity of human nature itself.

For the audience, this project is a thought-provoking reflection on the duality of identity—how much of what we see is shaped by stereotypes, and how much remains unseen? It encourages discussion, breaks taboos, and reminds us that beneath every robe, uniform, or title is a person navigating the same world as the rest of us.

How to Make This Happen?

The simplest way to execute this project is by purchasing a nun’s costume on Amazon. The locations can vary, but of course, a nun wouldn’t be wearing her habit everywhere. A few shots could be taken from a distance near a church or cathedral, for example, smoking a cigarette or scrolling through TikTok/Tinder, subtly blending the sacred with the mundane.

The rest of the locations can be completely ordinary—a fast-food restaurant, a park, a shopping mall, or even a nightclub. The key isn’t to focus on religion itself but to highlight a broader idea