After “Zwei”, Berlin photographer Florian Hetz presents another spectacular photobook together with Paper Affairs Publishers. In this post, Pineapple not only introduce the new book, but also give you a behind-the-scenes look at it, as Florian and the publisher, Peter (owner of Paper Affairs Publishers) as well answered some of my questions. Let’s double the pleasures!
“AIKO” is a visual diary which, being far more personal than his previously published books, raises his art to a new level. Touching insights into Florian Hetz’s innermost thoughts and feelings are translated into a particularly fascinating imagery. His keen eye for the unusual, which this time takes on completely new perspectives, as well as his very own, unique gaze on the male body are captivating. Florian Hetz invites the viewer to partake in what has perhaps been the most emotional year of his life.
More than in his previous publications, Hetz contextualizes his nudes and embeds them in impressions of his everyday life. Male bodies in almost sculptural poses meet wilting tulip blossoms, flayed citrus fruits and shots of empty streets in Berlin, Vienna, Oslo, Bavaria or Montreal.
interview with FLORIAN HETZ
Preparing the book must have taken a lot of time and energy. How long have you been working on the new book?
I was thinking about a possible book already in December 2020. but effectively started working on it in march 2021. going through all the photos from the previous year nearly felt like a therapeutic. the skeleton of the book was ready in august and then it was about fine tuning. some photos had to go, others came instead. and when the essay “ Liminal Experiences” by the German author Daniel Schreiber arrived it all came together.
This photographic journey through time begins with the short essay “Liminal Experiences” by German author and journalist Daniel Schreiber: “There are phases of life that make it hard to say what day, week, even month it is at any given moment—phases that feel like a life packed in wadding, that feel as though you were surrounded by a dense fog that parts only at certainmoments, and only then can you see what is going on around you. (…) AIKO can be read as a document of just such a phase of life, as a testament to how a phase like that feels. It is a document that—with a peculiar, haunting tenderness—lifts the protective veil to afford a glimpse of the inner life such phases entail.”
It is mentioned in your first book that, as in the master/servant relationship, you are the master in the photo shoots. To what extent does the model have a say in how the shoot goes?
I don’t consider myself as the master of a shoot. But I have a clear vision of what I want and I don’t need someone to perform for me. I mostly work with people that are not used to be in front of a camera, so it’s a big part of my job to create an enjoyable, comfortable atmosphere for the sitter. Master/servant has no space there. My approach is very much to be on the same eye level with the sitter. All a person needs to do, is to be there and to forget about all their selfie poses and faces. When I started to take photos, I photographed bodies and body parts like objects. So it was not so much about the personality of the person. But since then I started to zoom out and give the sitter more space though. Master/servant sounds like I make people do things they don’t want to… it’s luckily not like that at all.
Do you have a muse? If so, what makes her special to you? If not, how do you choose models?
I don´’t have a muse. But every sitter brings something very special to a shoot. In that moment, they are my muse. Most of my models kind of chose me. I only work with people that contact me. I don’t want to convince someone that they should be in my photos. Often people write me messages saying: “I’d love to be photographed by you, but unfortunately I’m not your type”. Well, I don’t have type. I really believe that every person has something to offer, that I will find interesting and beautiful. All I’m looking for in a sitter is the confidence to show up.
Who was the master in the making of the book? How easy/difficult was it for your and Peter’s vision to mesh?
Generally we work really well hand in hand. I’s very enjoyable for me to work with Peter and Paper Affairs, since he gives me great input and I appreciate his vision a lot. But since AIKO is a bit more personal than my previous books, Ii was more in the driver seat with this book though.
What do you wish for yourself in 2022?
Being able to have real exhibitions again. I missed that a lot.
interview with PETER / PAPER AFFAIRS PUBLISHERS
How long have you been publishing books and why did you start?
I founded my publishing house Paper Affairs in 2017 and published the first book in 2018. But my passion for books goes back to my childhood. I’ve always had a close relationship with books. No digital medium comes close to the aesthetics and appeal of the printed. I am originally an art director, so it makes sense to dedicate myself to the subject of books. Perhaps it was inevitable to take the step to become a publisher one day.
Why Florian? What makes him special to you?
I’ve known Florian for a few years now and we also realized his previous book ZWEI together. I was fascinated by his work from the first moment: his simplicity, his sharp eye, his clarity – and of course the immediate sexual charisma that his pictures have. Recently, however, he has also developed more and more into a keen observer of the world, which he captures with his own imagery.
How were the images selected for the book?
In contrast to ZWEI (Florian’s previous book), Florian did the selection and compilation of the pictures for AIKO completely by himself. That makes perfect sense; AIKO is something like a visual diary of the year 2020 for Florian – one of the most formative years for him. In addition to the art direction, my job was to sharpen the selection here and there.
Peter, you take photos yourself. What do you think one photographer can learn from another, what have you (possibly) learned from Florian?
If you as a photographer look around with open eyes and without prejudice or envy, then you can learn a lot from others. It can be a special way of looking at things or a way of working, a visual language or a style … There are endless kinds of inspiration!
I have worked professionally for 2 decades with some of the best photographers in the world who have always inspired me. When I picked up the camera myself a few years ago, I was able to benefit a lot from these experiences. Finding your own way without copying is probably the most difficult, but also the most beautiful challenge.
What I learned from Florian most of all is his focus on the detail without forgetting the “big picture”. In addition, his pictures are often uniquely sculptural. On the other hand, he keeps drawing attention to things that can easily be overlooked and that is precisely why they are so fascinating.
What and whose books are currently available that were published by your company?
We are a small publisher, so our range is also small but nice. In addition to the new book by Florian, there is currently our first book “Carnal Remains” with photos and poems by Sam Scott Schiavo, “From Boyhood to Mankind” – 10 years of Vangardist Magazine, as well as one of the books that we made for the Japanese illustrator Hajime Yamamoto. / Check out the full selection here /
At the moment we are working on a book for the Polish photographer who has achieved quite a fame under the pseudonym “No Pic No Chat” and which you have just featured on your blog (click here for No Pic No Chat features). His pictures are rough, often gloomy and of a raw intensity that remind me of the early works of Robert Mapplethorpe or Peter Hujar (website here) and which are almost only found in Eastern Europe.
all pictures by FLORIAN HETZ from his book AIKO / @florian.hetz / www.florianhetz.com
224 pages, 204 images / 24,5 x 31 cm / Hardcover with embossed linen binding
CLICK HERE AND GET YOUR COPY OF AIKO
Designed & published by Paper Affairs Publishers @paper_affairs / www.paperaffairs.com
Click here to find more posts with Florian on Pineapple.
Click here and see Sam Scott Schiavo’s book preview on Pineapple – published by Paper Affairs Pulbishers.
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