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ELLEN VON UNBERTH. “THIS SIDE OF PARADISE”

Full of energy, bright, sensual, lustful, fun and crazy. Eroticism as a form of power. Empowered women controlling the situation and more than anything, their sexuality. Nothing banal, nothing simple. And always fun. This is the photography of Ellen Von Unberth in which its protagonists are usually the most sought-after models and actresses who play the role of strong, happy women, and owners of situations.

Having had the opportunity, at the beginning of her career, to be in front of the camera as a model for great photographers such as Helmut Newton, has not only given Ellen VonUnberth the opportunity to learn from them, but has given her the possibility, when she was the one behind the camera photographing or directing, of exercising a special complicity with her models, which is perceived in their attitudes, and in the energy and security they transmit. Her beginnings were already pointing to a very powerful style when, at the end of the eighties, she photographed Claudia Schiffer for the Guess campaign, when both photographer and model were still unknown. And that was just the beginning. She has been dedicated to her work for more than three decades.

In her photography, provocation and lust are mixed with fun and games, although the common denominator is that life emanates from all of them. The models seem to be themselves, in control of the situation, happy and enjoying their work. And Ellen brings her point of view in the creative process, because she is also charged with that energy. It’s contagious. A synergy. It’s how to make everyone into hooligans with brilliant results. On one occasion, Ellen stated, regarding her shootings: “It’s almost better than a party! I always play the music loud and we have a lot of fun during the session, which is also a celebration of life”. Because it is there, in her sessions, where she becomes a privileged voyeur of the sexual fantasies of her models, taking advantage of the opportunity of complicity to claim the freedom of the body. An erotic reading with a Von Unberth stamp.

Now from May 18, 2023 to January 8, 2024, the SCAD The Savannah College of Art and Design presents the exhibition Ellen von Unwerth: This Side of Paradise, at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta. Curated by SCAD FASH creative director Rafael Gomes, that presents more than 50 photographs and fashion films from Ellen von Unwerth’s vast editorial and artistic repertoire. In this Exhibition you will be able to experience how she reinvents the paradigm of the strong and self-confident woman. Inspired by von Unwerth’s Paris studio, the atmospheric exhibition at SCAD FASH emulates a mischievous and raucous party through a dazzling curation of the artist’s trademark images brimming with movement, decadence, and glamour.  We will find the portraits of Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, RuPaul, Britney Spears, Naomi Campbell, Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera or Zoë Kravitz. Fashion films with stars such as Coco Rocha, Miley Cyrus and Georgia May Jagger will also be projected.

“I am so proud and thankful to SCAD FASH for dedicating this show to me. This Side of Paradise is the place to be! The show reflects my vision of a society with no boundaries, of celebration, intimacy, love, friendship, fun, and glitter — even a little devil is allowed in. I hope everyone who visits enjoys this exhibition!”

ELLEN VON UNWERTH

What else could we say about Ellen Von Unwerth? Nothing that hasn’t been said before, but it should be noted that her work has been published in important magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair or I-Dasi, as well as in different photography books: Snaps (1994), Wicked (1998), Couples (1999). , Revenge (2003), and Fräulein (2009) and album covers by renowned authors, such as Duran Duran, direction of films such as «I create myself», «Naomi» or «Wendybird», music videos such as «Year of 4» for Beyoncé (2011) «Fragment One-And I Kept Hearing» for Kenneth Bager (2010) and advertising for important brands: Dior, Chanel or Miu Miu. She has been awarded first prize at the International Festival of Fashion Photography in 1991, a LUCIE Award for Fashion Photography in 2019, a Royal Photographic Society Award in 2020, and an Iconic Photographer Influencer Award in 2021.

Words: Jo García Garrido

Many thanks to the SCAD press department for your help. All images are by Ellen Von Unberth and have been provided to us courtesy of SCAD.