- Simon Lohmeyer captures bare photographs of his models and partakes in nudity himself.
Legendary figures in naked photography, such as Helmut Newton, Peter Lindbergh, Ryan McGinley, and Jürgen Teller, have forever echoed in my artistic journey. I sought to carve out my own niche, distinct from their illustrious footprints. The crux of my differentiation lies in moving past the voyeuristic stance. How might I achieve this? I immerse myself, stripping bare, into the core of my intent, thereby establishing an eye-to-eye connection and sharing a raw, emotional vulnerability.
There exists a spontaneous exhilaration, an audacious enthusiasm and unconditional joy that transcends manufactured staging, consistently materializing in front of my lens.
Nudity vs. Sweat-Drenched Garments
My initial foray into this realm was during a Southeast Asia excursion with my former companion, Jen. Our primary motivation for capturing such images was straightforward – tourists tend to lack aesthetic appeal. They don sports attire, popularly suited for utility, characterized by sweat-soaked tees, peculiar headgear, and sweatbands. The sole avenue to create visually appealing photographs while wandering abroad is to jettison these outfits entirely and embrace nudity.
Global Landscapes Transcend English Gardens
Undoubtedly, exposing oneself in unfamiliar territories comes with numerous challenges. Nudity is not universally embraced in various cultures. As a lifelong Munich resident, I learned to be more mindful of this cultural nuance. In our down-to-earth, often traditional Bavaria, stripping down is a common occurrence, especially in the renowned English Garden.
However, as a cultured international traveler, it is crucial to adapt to the local customs and etiquette. So, we ensured our backdrop was neither pleasing nor offensive to the local populace by posing naked in private landscapes unseen by prying eyes.
Embracing Innocence and Folly
My spiritual muses are the hippies who infamously frolicked naked at Woodstock and discarded their confining societal norms. I respect these individuals, like Uschi Obermaier, a revolutionary icon who continues to embody boundless freedom and elegance. While their ideological vision of the world may have been naive and largely orchestrated with comedic undertones, I cannot conceive anything more beautiful than embracing innocence and embracing follies in pursuit of one's ideals.
The exhibition "Simon Lohmeyer – The Art of Journey" will be showcased from October 31, 2024, at the Leica Galerie, Maffeistrasse 4, in Munich.
In my artistic exploration, I aimed to move beyond the voyeuristic aspect often associated with naked photography, choosing instead to strip down mentally and emotionally, establishing a direct connection and sharing vulnerability with my subjects.
During my Southeast Asia travels, I recognized the opportunity to create visually appealing photographs by discarding the sweat-drenched clothing typically worn by tourists, opting instead for nudity as a means of breaking free from the conventional.
