SPAO 168 Dalhousie Street Ottawa K1N7C4 Ontario Canada
Une exposition de photographies en noir et blanc se voulant un lieu sécuritaire permettant l'interaction visuelle avec des accessoires sexuels.
Rarement vus commes des objets à exposer sur votre cheminée, les accessoires sexuels passent la majeure partie de leur vie hors de vue. Intéressée à modifier la façon dont ces objets sont perçus, la photographe Sarah Schorlemer se fixe comme défi de créer un lieu sécuritaire où l'on peut interragir visuellement avec ces objets. En passant par différents tons de gris, le public peut apprécier ces accessoires amusants pour leur bienfaits plutot qu'à titre de petit secret à cacher de votre mère.
Artist’s Statement
Last year in the United States, the entire adult industry, which included sex toy production, grossed $8 to 12 million dollars. It’s funny how this multi million-dollar industry is considered taboo. I have been working at an adult retail store now for about 4 years. Over time I have become desensitized to the whole subject matter and wanted to look at it with a different approach.
How is it that an industry that makes so much money and gets so much attention is barely talked about? Maybe it’s because for the most part, most are afraid of this unknown territory. But why are we so afraid or ashamed about educating ourselves about what comes naturally to us as human beings?
Despite the appearance of this industry, I have helped so many people become less uncomfortable and have taught them to embrace this part of their life. Even though how personal and maybe even uncomfortable the experience is, you would probably be surprised as to how many silicone and jelly toys have made their way out into our city.
I want to photograph these toys to make them seem less forbidden. I’m documenting these modernized objects to make people able to interact with them as if they are removed from the fact that they are sex toys, and make people less afraid of them.
I found myself drawn to the darkroom for this series, but I wanted to do something different. So, Instead of using my camera, I scanned all the items, made them into 8x10 negatives, from which I made contact prints. The black and white prints give you a less realistic approach and make them more accessible.
Hide & Seek
A black and white photographic exhibition creating a safe space to visually interact with sex toys.
Rarely seen as something to keep on your mantle, sex toys often live most of their lives in hiding. Trying to change how these objects are portrayed, photographer Sarah Schorlemer takes on the challenge of creating a safe space to visually interact with these toys. In tones of grey the viewer can see these playful aids for the good that they do and not just the dirty little secret to keep from your mother.