Hester Scheurwater in ZOO Magazine no 29 2010/2011

OBJECT OF DESIRE

Controversial artist Hester Scheurwater releases a book of photography

by Igor Guinau for ZOO magazine

The photography, short films and video performances of Dutch artist Hester Scheurwater are often blocked on the Internet. The 39-year-old’s Self-obsessed iPhone series, which explores her desires, obsessions and fears sparked media hype in the Netherlands. The explicit imagery shocked many and fueled debate on the sexualization of society. But the editor of Scheurwater’s first book of photography, SHOOTING BACK, defends her work. Zurich-based curator, writer and contemporary photography specialist Walter Keller compares it to Rober Mapplethorpe’s sexually-charged imagery or Francesca Woodman’s erotic mise-en-scene.”Scheurwater’s visual self-explorations extend the boundaries of another main topic in art history and photography – the pose. But in her pictures, model and artist are one,” says Keller. “Yes, this is sexually explicit work, but even more, it is a curious and smart research about herself, where the artist looks at herself from both sides of the mirror.”

in ZOO MAGAZINE 2010/2011 NO. 29