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Why erotica? Why erotic art? Why EROTIC PHOTOART?
For Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939), the Austrian neurologist and founder of the psychoanalytical school of psychiatry, the libido or eros, the desire for survival, propagation and sex, was the most important motivating force in life.
Richard Holloway, formerly Bishop of Edinburgh, Primus of the Scottish
Episcopal Church, Gresham Professor of Divinity, says in his book Between the
Monster and the Saint: “The fuck is as fundamental as the fight.” (OK, he says
it the other way around, in a different context; same thing, though.)
So, is sex important? You bet it is. What shall we do about it? Well,
one of two things: We may ignore our sex drive and do nothing about it, we even
may go so far as to suppressing it (many do, probably mostly for religious
reasons) or we revel in it. I do the latter. I like sex; always have, always
will.
I am a follower of tantra: Guiltless, artful sex. Not sex for
procreation, where women are reproduction facilities - but
sex for mutual pleasure. Then sex is a reciprocally joyous occasion, with the tender yet passionate
union of a loving couple’s two halves; this is sacred sex - without
shame or regrets. Sacred as opposed to religious - with its blame, disgrace and
sinfulness. Sex that is celebrated, talked about, written about, depicted - sex
that is not taboo.
My Erotic Photoart is sexy, sensual, artistic and adventurous. However,
it does test the boundaries between erotic and pornographic. One
definition for pornography is: Anything that is arousing - be it words or
pictures - is porn; by that definition my work is pornographic. But the most
accepted, most commonplace definition is: Pornography is offensive,
derogatory, rude, tacky, demeaning, vulgar, devoid of taste. Then - I believe -
my work is not pornographic; but you will have to make up your own mind.
When I look at my work, I am aware of its voyeuristic nature. Tantra
acknowledges that when we view the nude body, we gain satisfaction … and in the
process indeed become voyeurs. This is an aspect of our nature Erotic Photoart
caters for, unashamedly so.
I adore eros, the god of love. Eros - according to Plato - is the
creative force that inspires art, literature and the sciences. Hence
Erotic Photoart - the celebration of the nude female body, of beauty and our sex
drive.