“In my photography I always try to explore my surroundings and to create a world of images in which I would like to live.” – interview with German photographer, Florian Tenk.
Where are you from?
From Munich, Germany.
Please share a few words with us about your art.
In my photography I always try to explore my surroundings and to create a world of images in which I would like to live. A world beyond gender roles, clichés, anxiety and shame; issues that perpetuate these social constructions and may lead to human despair. In doing so, I intend to provide and insight into the enforced hide-and-seek game concerning the human body and to place the beholder frequently into a voyeuristic position which, in the best case, gives rise to a thorough examination of the subject presented. Then I try to deconstruct the origins of those feelings. The resulting photographic style combines people as well as object, and trasnfers these same emotions to another level of abstraction. To establish a transfer between things only by short glimpses in everyday life and to capture them without losing their aura then, might be my main approach in my photography in general.
How did you get into photography?
Actually I can’t really remember nor properly explain. Somewhow I was always curious in creative stuff and I always thought that there is something more in life, something invisible, some kind of unnamable desire. A lot of people judging the structure of art academys, but back then, for me, it was a savior, because I stowen those not yet know energies somehow, so now I am able to work with them in a more purposive way.
What is your favorite location to shot?
I really like to shoot at the places where the people I want to photograph live. I find it interesting to explore their surroundings and discover connections or structures they are maybe not even realized by theirselves. Also I shoot A LOT in my room but I really get bored of it because I reached the point where I cannot create something really new there. Unfortunately it is pretty difficult as a student to find an affordable atelier in my city.
Would you like to be super famous?
Not necessarily super famous, but a bit famous would be nice – and this only because of the reason to make a standard comfortable living out of my art, for that I will be always able to follow my real drive and passion. This would be great for my basic happyness in life.
You use plants a lot on your photos, how is that come, or what is the connection between plants and male shape?
To find connection between different things is an important point in my photography in general. I like to find abstractions and translations so that for example a shape of a plant will symbolize the shape of a male body and
then tells the story of body instead. Sometimes i find it necessary to do this abstractions to show my ideas without pointing directly to them, to awake the mind of the beholders and hopefully inspire them in any direction. And that i often use plants…i can’t really explain. Someday I noticed my interested in them and since my room turns more and more into a botanical garden.
Who or what is the best inspiration for you?
The most inspiration I get is from the people I love, as cheesy this may sound. Im so happy to be surrounded by really awesome friends. So a critical talk with them is often more helpful for me as a teachers word. And as partially explained above, I get a lot of inspiration by everyday life, when I recognize structures, translations or transfers in supernormal things, for example like a surrealistic shadow or a strange shape of a plant – and in good moments I recognize these things rather often. It’s like I’m overwhelmed how magical our world could be when we just try to really see. And then it’s my goal to integrate this into my art and make it visible for others.
What happens if you get excited?
Well, I have to admit that I get rarely excited. It’s not that I would be always too unemotional. I just can’t really show joy, excitement or those feelings as much as I want to, even I am very joyful or excited inside. That means, when I get excited, it must be something super exciting and then I develop A LOT of energy and for example when it’s about project or something then I get the feeling of a realistic chance to fulfill the idea I have in mind. So maybe, it’s ok that this occasions are kind of rare so they stay something special.
Do you have any big upcoming procejts?
I will do my diploma at the art academy next year and would love to show then something i’m really pleased with. Something that’s maybe bit different to what I’m now doing, something I maybe won’t understand completely myself and for that I have to break through my comfort zone.
“Working with people of my own private life, I learned a lot about their anxieties and doubts and so I tried to deconstruct the origins of those feelings. The resulting photographic style combines people as well as objects, and transfers these same emotions to another level of abstraction. ” – Florian Tenk
Find more: http://floriantenk.de/ / @floriantenk