Legs Elevated: Photographer Juergen Teller's Lighthearted Interpretation of an Ancient Fertility Legend
Even though there's no scientific backing for this, the notion of raising your legs after trying to conceive remains a popular belief. So, when photographer Juergen Teller and his creative partner, Dovile Drizyte, were attempting to have a baby while on vacation in Sicily, he suggested trying it out.
"I told Dovile, 'It's supposed to increase your chances of getting pregnant later if you put your legs up,'" Teller reminisced in a video interview with CNN. While this might just result in a quick search on the internet and a chuckle for many couples, this idea came to life in an interesting way for Teller and Drizyte, who have been collaborating artistically for a few years now. Their collaboration includes, most recently, their daughter Iggy recreating her father's iconic fashion shoots.
Their discussion eventually led to a visually compelling body of work titled "The Myth." In this series, Drizyte poses nude in front of the 94 rooms of the neoclassical and art deco Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, located in Lake Como, Italy. With her legs elevated in each frame, she lies on beds, perches herself on tiny chairs, and even gazes out at the majestic views from a balcony table. The photos are reminiscent of pregnancy or the anticipation of having a child.
Fortunately, while exploring the villa, Teller and Drizyte stumbled upon symbols of fertility, femininity, and motherhood in the hotel's art collection. These included Madonna and Child icons, depictions of baptisms, and sensual nudes, which became a significant theme in "The Myth."
"It was quite an intriguing surprise; it seemed like the hotel was assisting us in our project," Drizyte said.
Looking Ahead
In every image, Drizyte appears to have just had sex, though she clarified that the focus was on the anticipation of the upcoming baby, not on sexualization.
"It's about the unknown future - what's going to happen? What's about to come? ...Of course, there's some humor involved since you never really know what the future holds. Your life changes significantly," she explained.
"Dovile had to maintain a serene demeanor," Teller emphasized, adding that while the shoot was mentally (and physically for Drizyte) draining, they were under some time pressure, as by the time they planned the shoot, she was already pregnant and beginning to show.
Teller had previously stayed at the villa, even capturing a 2019 campaign for YSL there that showcased legs in sheer stockings, and the owners willingly granted them free rein. As the staff readied to close the hotel for the off-season, Teller and Drizyte became a part of the hotel's temporary closure.
"The maids were cleaning these rooms and removing beds. Guests were disappearing, leaving the place feeling ghost-like," Drizyte recalled. "It was romantic, enchanting, and lovely," Teller added. These experiences allowed them to focus and contemplate their new parenting journey.
Despite Drizyte finding conception easy, she emphasized that it's largely a matter of luck. "It's like a lottery almost. You might have a smooth, quick experience, or it might take longer or result in complications," she said. "You start to believe and pray or think... (even about) putting your legs up - maybe that works?"
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The artistic collaboration between Teller and Drizyte has always been characterized by a unique style, as seen in their recent project involving their daughter Iggy.
Further exploring this style, they created a series of photographs titled "The Myth," where Drizyte poses nude with elevated legs in various settings, representing the anticipation and mystery of childbirth.
