© Bettina Rheims, Simon K. I, Paris, 2011.
Camera Work Gallery Kantstraße 149 10623 Berlin Allemagne
Focusing again on the topic of transgender, in 2011 the artist created a fascinating portrait series of 25 people who evade the categorization of male and female. To see and show people in a manner like the people portrayed see themselves – Bettina Rheims links her humanly approach with her own artistic style and created with »Gender Studies« an impressive series that is of high social aspiration and essential meaning. At the same time it strikes with its atmospheric aesthetics. The project which was initially thought as a call on Facebook for people who feel »different« evolved for Bettina Rheims to an intense project with young transgender that fascinated the photographer through their androgyny and transsexuality. The result presented in the form of large size photographs equals an artistic study of people who act beyond normative and partly stereotyped classifications of gender. It is moreover the change between gender depended on daytime and mood of the portrayed that gives them a sort of freedom within our society, however, the recipient is often confused and at the same time fascinated by that.
