Alles kann, nichts muss.
publication in the EDITION PATRICK FREY [link]
design: HOLGER SALACH & TOBIAS PEIER [link]
9 x 9 inch, 216 pages, 60 photographs, 46 texts
ISBN 3-905509-61-X
SFr 48,- / € 32,- / $ 39,-
SPECIAL EDITION:
20 books, each with two c-prints, numbered and signed
review in the WELTWOCHE by MARTIN JAEGGI [link] (in german)
„Alles kann, nichts muss.“ is a book with photographs and texts on the phenomenon of the "Swinger"-scene.
Swingers are persons (mainly couples) that are in mutual agreement to have sexual contact with other partners. Potential partners are found mostly via the web. This means that the scene itself is not closed but open to everyone, thanks to a speedy and anonymous form of contact, no matter where they live.
In the beginning, I was fascinated by the paradox that brings sexuality, which is usually connected with privacy, into a semi-public area. Often the sex act is not the main thing. Exhibitionism and voyeurism play an important role as well.
The personal ads adresses to potential partners employ codes for sexual preferences and wishes. As in every marketplace, the fulfillment of fantasies is offered in exchange for the fulfillment of other fantasies.
I was interested in finding out which structures make swinger culture work, how exactly excahnges are implemented, where its limits lie and what kind of power play is brought into being during a gangbang. I asked myself if participants go from one kick to the next without ever finding what they are looking. Was is possible that all those fantasies were actually never fulfilled? What is the difference between a swinger club and a bowling club?
For this research, photography played a huge role, not least because the personal ads are often embellished with a picture of the pleasure-seeker, making them the first place where an exhibitionistic or voyeuristic act can be realized.
Because I was looking for contact as a photographer, I was confronted with widely diverse ideas for pictures, presented in emails and during meetings.
Swingers are persons (mainly couples) that are in mutual agreement to have sexual contact with other partners. Potential partners are found mostly via the web. This means that the scene itself is not closed but open to everyone, thanks to a speedy and anonymous form of contact, no matter where they live.
In the beginning, I was fascinated by the paradox that brings sexuality, which is usually connected with privacy, into a semi-public area. Often the sex act is not the main thing. Exhibitionism and voyeurism play an important role as well.
The personal ads adresses to potential partners employ codes for sexual preferences and wishes. As in every marketplace, the fulfillment of fantasies is offered in exchange for the fulfillment of other fantasies.
I was interested in finding out which structures make swinger culture work, how exactly excahnges are implemented, where its limits lie and what kind of power play is brought into being during a gangbang. I asked myself if participants go from one kick to the next without ever finding what they are looking. Was is possible that all those fantasies were actually never fulfilled? What is the difference between a swinger club and a bowling club?
For this research, photography played a huge role, not least because the personal ads are often embellished with a picture of the pleasure-seeker, making them the first place where an exhibitionistic or voyeuristic act can be realized.
Because I was looking for contact as a photographer, I was confronted with widely diverse ideas for pictures, presented in emails and during meetings.
Some people wanted to be set in scene and saw me as the expert ("you tell us what to do") others simply invited me to "be there".
In my role as a traveling voyeur I was on a similar quest as those involved. The varying expectations concerning the pictures led to variations in the idea of what a "good" or "authentic" photograph consists of.
This field of tension between sexual and visual expectations is at the heart of this book.
In my role as a traveling voyeur I was on a similar quest as those involved. The varying expectations concerning the pictures led to variations in the idea of what a "good" or "authentic" photograph consists of.
This field of tension between sexual and visual expectations is at the heart of this book.
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