"The Story of Olga"
Ellen von Unwerth
2013 December 7 - February 16
Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Starting
on December 7, the exhibition, consisting of over 30 works, shows an
exclusive selection of the 2011-series about the topmodel Olga, who
rediscovers the world of eroticism in Ellen von Unwerth’s photographic
narration. Fairy-tale-like sceneries with picturesque subjects, a
pompous chateau or rustic stables and the lascivious eroticism of Olga
entice the observer of »The Story of Olga« into an intoxicative world of
passionate lust and desire. Chimerical atmospheres and unique locations
create the visual space where the protagonist Olga unexpectedly
experiences an erotic dream. Finding herself alone and widowed, the
sexual desire grabs Olga shortly after her husband’s death. On her way
to unconditional satisfaction Olga acts out her phantasies in unexpected
intensity and finally finds the yearned for fulfilment beyond her
familiar world of glamour and luxury. The fairy-tale loses its innocence due to the wild,
illustrious excesses that Olga and her entourage celebrate amidst the
opulent interior. The observer, whose view glides over the flamboyantly
designed and detailed image space, is deeply moved by this apparent
ambivalence, the direct language of the image and the huge
attractiveness. Ellen von Unwerth succeeds to convey to the contemplator
the feeling of desire in a belligerent and playful way and not only to
make the sensuality of the narrative scenes perceptible, but to create a
tension, from which the viewer can hardly escape from. Sexual games between Olga and her girlfriends in colorful,
pompous premises, atmospheric portraits or lascivious scenes with Olga
amidst her intoxicating entourage create, due to the distinctive imagery
of Ellen von Unwerth, a photographic narration, in which the artist and
Olga – as well as her inner cool seductress – combine the aesthetic of
eroticism with the stimulating game of devotion and dominance.
About Ellen von Unwerth
Photographer
Ellen von Unwerth was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in 1954.
Until 1988, von Unwerth pursued a successful career as a model, until
she decided to take up the camera by herself to take portraits of native
children in Kenya during a fashion production. After these photos had
been published in the French fashion magazine »Jill«, Ellen von Unwerth
decided to change entirely to the field of photography. Soon after, she
discovered the 17-year-old Claudia Schiffer and achieved success with
her commissioned work by the French magazine »Elle«. Ellen von Unwerth’s
photographs are characterized by a cool eroticism, whereby women are
staged intentionally in a playful, witty and ironic way to underline
their beauty in many facets. The photographies by Ellen von Unwerth are published in
magazines like »Glamour«, »GQ«, »i-D Magazine«, »Interview Magazine«,
»Numero«, »Vanity Fair« or »Vogue«. Her most famous photobooks are,
amongst others, »Snaps« (1994), »Couples« (1998), »Revenge« (2003) and
»Fräulein« (2009). In December 2012 her new book »The Story of Olga«
(Taschen) will be published. The artist lives and works in Paris.
CWC Gallery
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