Florian Hetz

Photographer

Florian Hetz started his professional career in opera and dance theatre in Germany, yet his theatrical career was brought to an end by severe encephalitis. In the process of returning to full health he picked up a camera to document daily life, in the form of a visual diary, to fight potential memory loss as part of the after-effects of the brain inflammation. From taking photos of his friends and lovers, he eventually moved on to creating photos based on the imagery in his head.

Much of Hetz's work circles around the hidden memories of intimacy and a time pre-coming out; the confusingly arousing moments that many queer people experience at young ages, without knowing how to read or act on them. By taking close ups of seemingly normal body parts and gestures, Hetz brings the focus to their highly sexual undertone. Like looking through a glory hole, Hetz only shows a fragment of the moment, and viewers are invited to create their own narrative.

Florian Hetz started his professional career in opera and dance theatre in Germany, yet his theatrical career was brought to an end by severe encephalitis. In the process of returning to full health he picked up a camera to document daily life, in the form of a visual diary, to fight potential memory loss as part of the after-effects of the brain inflammation. From taking photos of his friends and lovers, he eventually moved on to creating photos based on the imagery in his head.

Much of Hetz's work circles around the hidden memories of intimacy and a time pre-coming out; the confusingly arousing moments that many queer people experience at young ages, without knowing how to read or act on them. By taking close ups of seemingly normal body parts and gestures, Hetz brings the focus to their highly sexual undertone. Like looking through a glory hole, Hetz only shows a fragment of the moment, and viewers are invited to create their own narrative.

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