BERLIN GAY MATES by KARIM KONRAD
Reed Massengill:
Karim Konrad's visual assault on the senses is overwhelming, and his models are ripe with their luscious youth. The artist's orgy of color explodes with sexiness and energy, pushing the viewer ever closer to a mental climax as he turns each page of this wonderful collection by this gifted newcomer.?" Book DescriptionThe talented young photographer Karim Konrad approaches his images with an insouciance that is both hyperkinetic and unapologetic. Easter eggs, confectionary doughnuts and a dildo share equal space in his staged productions of his model Rocco, while model Johannes cuddles alongside a photograph of Greta Garbo and a mirrored disco ball while he wears a pair of striped suspenders. Colored-candy letters intended for a birthday cake are affixed to model Mario, making him an even tastier treat than he is already. Karim's model Josh finds himself in high heels, peering into the work of retro physique photographer Champion (a natural predecessor for Karim), while model Ivo surrenders himself in a black sleep mask, a jockstrap and orange rubber gloves.
Karim's visual assault on the senses is overwhelming, and his models are ripe with their luscious youth and their earthy sensuality. The artist?s orgy of color explodes with sexiness and energy, pushing the viewer ever closer to a mental climax as he turns each page of this wonderful collection by this gifted newcomer.
Born in 1979, Karim is too young to ever have known the world in which the standard was television, movies and even fashion magazines produced primarily in black-and-white. Yet even for one whose surroundings have always offered a multihued embrace, he manages to surprise and even stun with his use of color.
There's a truthful playfulness in everything Karim shoots, and it's clear that at least part of his joy comes from generating the idea and setting the stage, as well as from revealing the comely attractiveness of his handsome young models. Not everyone can wear tube socks and a ringer T-shirt and get away with it -- and even fewer can convincingly wear a candy necklace or a party hat, or seemingly hide their cock behind a see-through red plastic pillow -- but Karim's sly boys can. And it?s because their master has thought it out, and works diligently to pull it off.
In an interview in Du&Ich, Karim referred to the book you're holding as "a declaration of love to Berlin," the city that spurs his natural energy and in which he generally finds both his inspiration and his models. As the spray-painted graffiti background in one of his iconic photographs says, "This boy from Berlin is full of love." He's also taking a Technicolor dream ride, and with this wonderful collection of images, Karim Konrad makes it clear that he's happy for us to get on the roller-coaster with him. Enjoy the ride.
Karim's visual assault on the senses is overwhelming, and his models are ripe with their luscious youth and their earthy sensuality. The artist?s orgy of color explodes with sexiness and energy, pushing the viewer ever closer to a mental climax as he turns each page of this wonderful collection by this gifted newcomer.
Born in 1979, Karim is too young to ever have known the world in which the standard was television, movies and even fashion magazines produced primarily in black-and-white. Yet even for one whose surroundings have always offered a multihued embrace, he manages to surprise and even stun with his use of color.
There's a truthful playfulness in everything Karim shoots, and it's clear that at least part of his joy comes from generating the idea and setting the stage, as well as from revealing the comely attractiveness of his handsome young models. Not everyone can wear tube socks and a ringer T-shirt and get away with it -- and even fewer can convincingly wear a candy necklace or a party hat, or seemingly hide their cock behind a see-through red plastic pillow -- but Karim's sly boys can. And it?s because their master has thought it out, and works diligently to pull it off.
In an interview in Du&Ich, Karim referred to the book you're holding as "a declaration of love to Berlin," the city that spurs his natural energy and in which he generally finds both his inspiration and his models. As the spray-painted graffiti background in one of his iconic photographs says, "This boy from Berlin is full of love." He's also taking a Technicolor dream ride, and with this wonderful collection of images, Karim Konrad makes it clear that he's happy for us to get on the roller-coaster with him. Enjoy the ride.
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