Photographic Gems of Our Times From The Web ***NSFW*** Andres Sierra ***NSFW***

[Jerome Marot]

Andres Sierra is a product and fashion photographer, based in Medellín, Colombia. On his private site he also presents more personal work, which has been the subjects of exhibition in Colombia and abroad.

I will present two series in this thread, "Karmasutra" and "Perras en calor". Just in case you have not noticed the "NSFW" warning, I would like to point out that the pictures may not be to everyone's taste. There is an obvious sexual, even pornographic streak in the choice of subjects. Still, even after having watched the series attentively, I am still not entirely sure what the pictures are about. I usually take that as a sign that the work is good...

Karmasutra is a photo series of 50 photographies made in analog technique. All subjects shown on the pictures are homeless and disabled people, missing limbs or other parts of their anatomy. More often than not, we see them in the act of having sex. Contrasting with the subject, the pictures are obviously staged and lit professionally.

Perras en Calor would translate literally as "Bitches on heat". I am not aware that this particular work has been exhibited. Actually, looking at the pictures, I am not entirely sure what the subject of the work is. Group sex, obviously (of the kind involving many more men than women), but the attitude of the participants is in stark contrast to the usual canons of mainstream pornography. It is neither titillating nor kinky. Obviously, some of the participants are in the two projects, so one must assume that we are again looking at homeless people, but I don't know.

The pictures are linked from Labloom school of photography. They are not the most shocking in the series, so you have been warned.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Excellent discovery. They certainly push our boundaries and make us try to puzzle out what's going on in the pictures and in the mind of the artist!

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

Excellent discovery. They certainly push our boundaries and make us try to puzzle out what's going on in the pictures and in the mind of the artist!

I am not entirely sure what is going on in the second set of pictures (and that ambivalence is what makes them interesting), but I think that with a little effort we can deduce what is going on in the mind of the artist.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Well what do you suggest is going on in the artists mind?

But first am I correct that he is urging an idea woman in their midst and they observe and just attend to themselves and not touch her? Even in the first picture, the male appears to just cling to her as if attaching himself to humanity, rather than actual having intercourse and enjoying her sexually!

Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

The same woman is acting in the two projects. Therefore, she is a model and the whole series are staged. It would make sense that they are not having actual intercourse.

 

[Asher Kelman]

The same woman is acting in the two projects. Therefore, she is a model and the whole series are staged. It would make sense that they are not having actual intercourse.

So, Jerome, we seem to agree so far, at least as to the role of the woman and her limited involvement with the men or the men with her.

Now, what do you think is in the mind of the artist in setting the stage thus?


Asher

 

[Jerome Marot]

Don't you have an idea yourself?

 

[Asher Kelman]

Don't you have an idea yourself?

Well, now that I have looked at the pictures in that series, I am perplexed. I am not sure of his intent. He had the nude female posing in sexually obvious positions appearing to show oral sex, but it could be that the participants pretended to be doing these acts or photographs of the real thing! He has included movement in the pictures to indicate that what one sees is actually happening, but that may be just what he schemed up and just his technique to get the feeling of veracity.

If the men are being given sexual pleasure or being posed to approximate that, then perhaps the artist here is telling us that these folk shouldn't be cut off from the natural needs, desires and comfort and pleasure of sex. Perhaps that is saying something of how we discard, exclude and reject the homeless and physically or mentally challenged, excluding them from our sense of community and obliterating their humanity.

By bringing to them naked models and even pleasuring them beyond their fantasy, the artist is telling us that these folk deserve to be better integrated in society and not treated like garbage!

Diane Arbus also photographed sexually charged scenes with mentally and physically challenged people. But her work, (to me and to others I have seen in exhibitions of her work), is severely nauseating and even, revolting, in its apparent exploitation. Here, however, I feel that there is empathy for the subjects and this is some social plea for inclusiveness.

Thanks for opening our eyes to this extraordinary and provocative work! From his almost quietly pastoral professional work in advertising and fashion, I would never have predicted such aggressive art!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

I just don't like any of those pictures!

Michael,

I don't think they are meant to be liked. Instead these are openings of a conversation about the dejected. This is not for satisfying any sensual need of the viewer, so if one is looking for some gratification or even beauty then these are not for you. Rather this is a kind of allegorical documentary.

Asher