Berlin photographer Florian Hetz is challenging our phobia of the phallus
#freethepenis ?
[F]lorian Hetz was born in Germany into a Norwegian, East Prussian, bohemian family. He stole his first Mapplethorpe book when he was 14 years old. As well photography, he has been working for theatre, opera and ballet in the past, as well as being the bar manager of the iconic Berghain for over 11 years. We had a lot to talk about.
Make Instagram wild again by following him @Florian.Hetz. Depending on where you work his NSFW website is here.
Hey Florian, what do you like to take photos of?
My main interest in photography is still the male body, skin and sexuality.
I grew up in a time where in pretty every magazine you would see female nudity, but it was close to impossible to see a penis. Funny enough america decided to ban female nipples now, so maybe it´s finally time for the schlong!
What kind of reactions have you had to your work?
A lot of my work is about objectifying. I often treat men as (sex) objects in my photos and some people have massive problems with it.
Most people react pretty intensely. Either they really like my work, or they are absolutely repulsed or feel attacked. I hardly ever met anyone who said “MEH” about my photos.
How do you think cultural taboos about full frontal male nudity have affected our relationship to the male form?
I think our society is suffering under phallophobia since a very long time. Christian missionaries have done a pretty good job in the past to teach a feeling of shame about nudity in general and full frontal male nudity in particular to us and other cultures.
It’s scary to see how kids grow up not questioning the “moral code” of companies like Facebook and Instagram are inflicting on them. There’s nothing wrong with penises and nipples!
What’s your favourite body part?
I’m a sucker for collarbones and necks. and pretty everything that is veiny: arms, hands, penises… you name it.
What are some of your favourite accounts to follow on Instagram?
I stopped following people on Instagram after I got deleted five times within two months last year. It got to the point were I really got upset that I always had to find those great accounts over and over again. But of course I check in on my favourite ones quite frequently:
Is Berlin a good place to live? What energy do you get from the city?
Right now Berlin is pretty grim, but in summer it’s wonderful! It’s a fantastic place to live if you have discipline and a plan for your life. There are not many jobs and really no one waits for you. There’s enough party trash living here already. What the city really needs are creative people that have their shit together and contribute. It´s not enough of a reason to move just because you find the nightlife so cute and like naked boys and drugs. But Berlin is the best place for public nudity of course!
"It's not enough of a reason to move [to Berlin] just because you find the nightlife so cute and like naked boys and drugs.
Do you have any zines or future projects to tell us about?
My first book The Matter of Absence just got published by Bruno Gmuender Verlag at end of last year and this month I’m showing some work in Fez in Morocco. In February I want to come to London for a bit and in Spring I´ll be in New York to shoot some guys.
Cool…Thanks Florian!
