The Obscene Beauty of Florian Hetz (Photos)

"Echo Park," the new work of Berlin artist Florian Hetz, was created in the winter of 2018 during his artist's residency at the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles. For three months Hetz creatively explored the life and sexuality of gay men in the neighborhood of Echo Park.

Hetz photographed his models in sessions lasting several hours. Hundreds of photographs were taken during those meetings, and the extracts of those are now on view in Germany for the first time at Frappant Galerie Hamburg.

Hetz deconstructs, dissects, and sexualizes the bodies of his models. He mainly shows body fragments and details: trained physiques, muscles, hair, faces, and genitals fill the photos. Close-ups of objects and plants complete the picture of a fragmented community, a community that has been repeatedly broken up by discrimination, violence, and HIV. This community of gay men does not let anyone take away their yearning for beauty, closeness, fun and fusion, but fights for the right for a self-determined and joyful life.

Frappant Galerie Hamburg
Opening Friday, May 18, 7 p.m., Artist Talk Sunday, June 10, 4 p.m.
Zeiseweg 9 / Entrance: Bodenstedtstr.16
22765 Hamburg Altona

Florian's work Instagram, Florian's snapshot Instagram, and his adults-only Tumblr.