Lens befriends
Queer Sydney has a very definite style. Andrew Georgiou talks to photographer Karim Konrad and self-stylist Daniel Lutton about capturing the scene
Yin and yang... Pole opposites attract in this exclusive new image
At 27, Karim Konrad had an international hit on his hands with his debut book Berlin Gay Mates. The book which beautifully showcases Konrad’s ability to capture the male form was inspired by a desire to move beyond the stereotype of overly produced images which often dominate gay male nude photography. “ I wanted to tell the story of the person behind the model,” says Konrad.
Berlin Gay Mates does just that. But despite the book’s international exposure and the encouraging press it received, Konrad found there was a downside to his success.
“I fell into a hole,” he says, “I had my baby, the reviews were fantastic but I was immediately driven to work on something new. However everything I was trying to do ended up looking like Berlin Gay Mates part II,” he confesses.
Like artists before him, Konrad felt a radical change of scene might push his work into a fresh direction. So in 2006 the German photographer packed his bags for Australia. Within days of landing in Sydney, Konrad met Daniel Lutton, a social scientist working in public policy with a penchant for costume design. As you do.
“I noticed Karim’s promotional postcard floating about town calling out for models for his next shoot,” Lutton recalls. “Through the images on the card, I immediately thought to myself: ‘This person sees the world they way I do.’ And so I made contact with him.”
Lutton offered his colourful collection of hand made, one-off outfits to Konrad to use for his new project. Through the exchange, the pair acknowledged a mutual love for the ornate, the colourful and their respect for intricate detail. With Konrad’s artistic sensibilities and Lutton’s desire to tell the story of queer Sydney, the two creative forces joined seamlessly and began collaborating on Konrad’s second book – title as yet undecided.
“I have a huge desire to tell unique stories through my work, and that can be challenging,” says Konrad.
With Lutton as his Sydney-centric anchor point, the pair have been beautifully capturing the very fabric of Sydney’s queer culture through both well known and unknown faces from within its community.
Although the book is currently in its final stages of production Karim Konrad has given Time Out an exclusive glimpse into what promises to be a sensational follow up work to his international hit by providing the images which accompany this article. “Since the moment I landed here, I wanted to capture the people who make up this community,” he says.
It looks as though these gay mates are on the right track.
Berlin Gay Mates is available locally from The Book Shop Darlinghurst, 207 Oxford St, Darlinghurst 2010. (02 9331 1103). Karim Konrad’s work can be seen at www.karimkonrad.com and also at www.goliath.eu