Sookie Sirene - Colour self-portraits

Since I got apparently only some weeks left before this blog is definitively closed by google (via Blogger), I will post some more material by my favorite contemporary photographers, either amateurs or professionals, with high or no notoriety. I'll post too some stuff I was keeping in my "to post" folder cos' time is missing now. Today it's Sookie Sirene (previous post here), who follows her singular path through her own inner torments using her body of mature woman, far from the insipid young female models that most nude photography forces on us, to create a visual translation of all her (and ours) mental storms. She often use surimpression. I'm not very fond of this merging images technics but I must say she does it well. What I find fascinating is her creativity in ceating expressionist body postures. It would be hypocrite to deny there's an erotic power in these pictures (sorry M Blogger, don't look at it if you are shocked, I promise to put kittens soon on this blog, funny that Sookie Sirene actually often poses with cats but this is not the pictures I used, stupid I am). But it's surely what makes them so strong, everyone knows (except bigots) that Eros & Thanatos walk hand in hand (actually bones in genitals). Sookie Sirene's site (actually a blog on tumblr, maybe the place I should move this blog to) is always here. 

Various - Stereoscopic daguerreotype's nudes

The Daguerreotype was the first photographic process that allowed a long-lasting conservation of the taken images. Invented in 1835 by Louis Daguerre (he was French), the technic was considered by some as the end of painting (it was actually not) in particular Turner. Here I selected the stereoscopic pictures, a way to create movement using the optic physiology of the eyes. The technic was used widely only over a 10 years timespan, being replaced by more convenient technics, the reason why most of the pictures were from 1850/1860. For us, there's a really magical dimension to these images, not only because these images have something visually full of mystery, a gothic flavor, but also because seing nude humans that lived almost 2 centuries ago provides a weird feeling. And it's fascinating how female nudity was quickly a privileged thema of the male photographers although times were rather prudes. Some of these shots are even bending towards pornography. Make virtually love with women bodies older than our grand-grand-grand mother is a pleasure that we have no reason to avoid. 

Gert Jochems - S

I think it's S for Sex. Or Sexe since Gert Jochems (born in 1969) is from Belgium (but not French-speaking part of the country). He's also a sociologist, and it's great he found a way to express his interests in photography and in social sciences on a similar level. Can't help to think about Leslie Krims when I look at these weird scenes of everyday people's sexuality. Not a small compliment since this american master has always been one of my faves. If there is more fascination than excitation in these shots, if some may provide some supports for mockery and disgust, it's a precious document on the incredibly rich variety of sexual practices in the contemporary population. Rather sinister and depressive in a way. But actually this work is not meant to give a message but seems to say "it's up to you". Photographer's site (with more to see) here. 

Inside Flesh - 2008-13 works (suite)

I posted previously once about this  alternate porn collective(here). They really propose something else, hybrid, crossing the art and porn riverboards with this visual bridge that is as interesting than it is exciting. Actually, it raises a weird feeling compared to porn. To be a part of it and not only scoptophilian. Maybe the highest virtue of this work is to stimulate the desire to experiment, to live these body rituals and ceremonies and not to only be passive and guilty viewers. Yes a truly liberating approach of sex for sure. More here. These works can be bought and are printed in 20cm x 20cm (8" x 8") format on ILFORD GALERIE Prestige Smooth Pearl G310 paper.