NoNoses

NoNoses is a fictional artistic movement and collective that appears in contemporary art discourse and speculative fiction. It centers on the idea of faces or individuals existing without visible noses, using this motif to explore anonymity, identity, and biometric surveillance.

Origins of the concept surface in online forums and small zines from the early 2010s, where contributors described NoNoses as a metaphor for subjects stripped of distinguishing facial features. The name was adopted by artists and writers who shared images, texts, and code for interactive pieces, helping to circulate the idea through multiple media.

Activities attributed to NoNoses include public installations, digital artworks, and short films. Common elements feature sculptural masks or busts with the nose omitted, monochrome palettes, and the use of negative space. Projects often invite viewer participation through augmented reality filters or urban interventions that prompt reflection on who is recognized by technology.

Notable works within the NoNoses corpus are cited in catalogues and online archives, including series such as The Missing Nose, Silent Profile installations, and Void Portrait animations. These pieces examine how facially anonymous figures interact with surveillance regimes and social perception, trading explicit portraiture for conceptual cues.

Themes and reception around the NoNoses concept engage with privacy, identity, and the limits of facial recognition. Critics note its clear concept and visual economy, while others find it opaque or abstract. The idea has influenced discussions in contemporary art about embodiment and digital identity.

See also: mask art, identity in art, biometric privacy, conceptual art.