LEONIE STOLBERG'S GALERY
Welcome to Leonie Stolberg's gallery,
Immerse yourself in a world where norms are questioned
and where each image is a story, an inner journey.
Art and the perception of nudity have always been very profound subjects, with regard to our position on the body. Nowadays, a subtle evolution is taking place in our perception of nude art, particularly when it comes to photography. Interestingly, people seem more reluctant to look at and buy photographs of naked women. But they are less inclined to have these same reservations when these photos are transcribed through painting. This raises the question of whether painting adds an artistic dimension that allows viewers to see beyond the simple representation of the nude. Nude photography has long been confronted with social and cultural prejudices: this is still the case, and let's not forget that we live in contexts that are favorable to a certain "self-fulfillment". In a society where the image of nudity is often associated with vulgarity or pornography, it's not surprising that some people feel uncomfortable... Photographs offer a realistic, often unadorned representation of the human body, which can be perceived as too crude or exposed. What's more, the ease of distributing images online has led to an overabundance of sexualized images, which may have contributed to a fatigue of this type of representation. Is painting an intermediary? When a photographer chooses to paint over his nude models, he introduces an element of artistic transformation into the work. Painting adds colors, textures and patterns that transform the representation of the naked body into a more complex form of artistic expression. Paintings can evoke a range of emotions and symbolic meanings, enabling viewers to perceive the work as more than just an image of nudity. To find out more, take a look at the "ART THERAPY" or "Nudity and society" pages on my BLOG.
VÉNUS
Portraits of couples entirely in Red which recalls the initial project "Je t'aime" but as part of a preparation for a short film for the musician-composer Dim Kelly in co-production with Benoît Baudson, I launched into this series in order to train in the desired style. Finally the photographic series will be retained as such and exhibited in the gallery by March 2022
RED MY LOVE
Nude photography, the fusion of pictorial and sculptural art? Art and the perception of nudity have always been very profound subjects on our positioning on the body and today, a subtle evolution is emerging in our perception of nude art, particularly when it comes to photographs. It is interesting to note that people seem to have more reservations about looking at and purchasing photographs of nude women, but they are less inclined to these same reservations when these photos are transcribed through painting. This raises the question of whether the painting adds an artistic dimension that allows viewers to see beyond the simple depiction of the nude? Nude photography has long been confronted with social and cultural prejudices (this is still the case, let us not forget that we are located in contexts favorable to a certain "development") In a society where the image of nudity is often associated with vulgarity or pornography, it is not surprising that some people experience discomfort when viewing photographs of nude women. The photographs offer a realistic, often unadorned representation of the human body, which can be perceived as too raw or exposed. Additionally, the ease of distribution of images online has led to an overabundance of sexualized images, which may have contributed to a fatigue of this type of representation. Is painting then an intermediary? When a photographer chooses to paint on his nude models, he introduces an element of artistic transformation into the work. Painting adds colors, textures and patterns that transform the depiction of the nude body into a more complex form of artistic expression. Paintings can evoke a range of emotions and symbolic meanings, allowing viewers to perceive the work as more than just an image of nudity. I think it is time to create a new category of nude that does not belong to the boxes so well embedded with pornography and erotica which ultimately reflects the way in which we see bodies in our society; — Thanks to the anonymous models
PLUS BELLE LA VULVE
The act of asking for love, of desperately seeking that connection that makes us feel alive.
It's a state of being where we find ourselves in a vulnerable posture, waiting for someone to deign to grant us a little of their love, a little of their time...
In this series, we'll explore with models the emotions and sensations associated with this state. If you are interested in participating in this artistic project in "event", please contact me. (Anonymous)
Together, let's explore these complex feelings and seek to understand, in the hope of finding the true source of our own self-worth and self-esteem.
RED MY LOVE
Vanity, Vanity is a form of still life, by which we mean nature without movement which is in perspective life and death. Generally at the time it represented alchemist recipes as well as manifestos during the monarchy. Here, the goal is to make a politically engaged series by mixing body positivity and criticism with the symbol of Of course there will be an image rights contract. It is also for me the opportunity to pay homage to my grandmother, who painted a lot of still lifes.
STILL LIFE
Exhibition Series from October 21 to November 18 with “Auto-Censure” as well as the “Pubis” series at SEE U Brussels as part of an entire exhibition on my work. I had the opportunity to organize all kinds of activities such as Conferences, Concerts, Workshops, Discussion Tables. “Aren’t we doing things to conform to it, whether it’s not to displease, to be accepted, to do like others or even because we don’t know how to do otherwise? How much time is spent not being ourselves? This question is not new; Léonie addresses the question of control of the body and sexuality that society frames for its own ends. Without going back to Antiquity, we know the famous examples of Michelangelo or Caravaggio. In the 19th century, when nudity became omnipresent in artistic production, censorship was confused with modesty and hairiness triggered scandals. It is Édouard Manet or Gustave Courbet who shock by treating bodies with realism, that is to say with proximity and truth. All the artists who opposed the image of the body conveyed by the society of their time paid a high price for their freedom of emotion and expression. » List of guest speakers for the occasion: Chloé De Bon, l'Ecole des Cordes, Le Son du Désir, Edwige Fleury de Wicul, Camille battalion, Léorose de @no.dick.pics, Pécheresse, Lou west, Tancardville Moons. ttts, Vimure & Fleur, Mishaps, Victor Novak, Nox Ohm, Imaina, Lou_K, Espour Sarah, Leese and Kayu! — Thanks to Mell, Viffany, Aurora and Acya
DESA CORPS
“مقدس” means “holy” in Arabic. This is a single photo that I dedicate to the women we forget... at the origin of this tribute, three women who do not know each other and who nevertheless share blood and tears. These three women challenged themselves to come see me for a shoot at some point in their lives. You will never see their photos out of respect for them and their ideas. It was several months of work on the BodyPositif tone, we cried a lot, it was exhausting but very enriching. — Thanks to her and the anonymous model.
مقدس
Loose nude series with orphan photos from custom shoots or special projects.
MIX OF NUDES
Project in collaboration with L'école des Cordes de France founded by Stephanie Doe and Alex Von Dirty.
SHIBARI
Auto-Censorship is my first real series and it is the one that launched the beginning of my adventure in photography. This series responds to the censorship of which I have been a victim for several years. Auto-Censure has been exhibited in several galleries and soon at the Museum of Eroticism. — Thanks to Jérôme, Rachel, Viviane, Antony, Giulia
SELF CENSORSHIP
In the Name of the Body is more than just a photographic project. Its first goal is to help you reclaim your body, your physique, your image. It’s about putting your body at the center by placing it in the middle of a composition and the visual intention. It is a very difficult exercise for the model because it requires abandonment, letting go. But the most complicated thing is ultimately not getting naked, but seeing yourself. Visualizing the space we take up, seeing its particularities, exploring our physical singularity, all this makes us aware of ourselves: we are and we exist in space, we feel and are felt. It is always surprising to look, after a photo shoot, at the difference between the first and last take. The model evolves; the model understands the good that this revelation does him.
IN THE NAME OF THE BODY
This is the analogue version of the "In the name of the body" series, for an even different approach to light and photography.
IN THE NAME OF THE BODY (analogue version)
Series of pubes created for my exhibition "Desa-Corps" which took place at See U in October/November 2021. The initial goal of this project is to show pubes without it being shocking or pornographic. In the collective imagination we find it easier to look at a vagina than a penis. Based on this principle, I wanted to mix the two organic sexes in this series to show that in the end "who cares" it is only about sex and that everything is in nature. — Thanks to my anonymous models.
PUBIS
Je T'aime is a sexuality and body positive project. I slip into the privacy of those who love each other to bear witness that love exists whatever form it takes. Today it is difficult to bare oneself, especially in a society where we can no longer touch, see or feel each other. It's difficult to love yourself and others sometimes, not to mention that the period we're going through complicates things. This project also seeks to relieve people's inhibitions when it comes to questions about the body and sexuality. I don't select people, it's enough to have a healthy and clear outlook on this very sensitive and delicate project to work on. It's about dealing with the strength and sweetness of love...and if I can add a little surprise and something new on the networks, that delights me. It is also a musical project. I asked composer Victor Novak to collaborate by creating original compositions for each group to pose for me. The album is out. Each song has the title of the initials of the groups that passed in front of my lens.
JE T'AIME
Series produced for an exhibition given at the LGBTQIA+ Center in Paris center in the “Marais” district.
FLASH FLEURS
Series created for the PINK SCREEN festival event at the Galerie de la Reine in Brussels
MASTURBATE BRAIN
A series still based on the theme of love, whether for oneself or for others. The aim of this series is to put even more love into our Feeds on the networks and in the form of posters in our streets, because these are politically important areas. We're being individualized, whereas the revolution is made together and through love. If loving each other is political, then I'm making it my standard
LOVE IS REVOLUTION
Photo for the promotion of a collection of Latex and Vinyl clothing and accessories.
M.LATEX
Series created for a post-covid event / performance at Grand Place in Brussels.
RENAISSANCE
