On Loss and Location

July 24, 2017

Photographer Marie Tomanova and I met at the Museum of Sex, approaching each other in the dungeon and simultaneously asking, "Can I take your picture?"

There is something about her that is etherial, delicate, alluring. This was before I had even encountered her work, which is a surprising contast to her warm, eager smile and boyish buzzcut. Her images focus on her own body, which she poses, almost always nude, quite graphically so, in natural environments. The starkness of her pale skin provides thoughtful, theatrical layers to scenery both in concept, context, and aesthetics— tangled in moss, hanging in trees, splayed along seaside cliffs. Reflective of the romantic rawness of her work, she was equally willing to open up to Office about what inspires it.

Interview by Anna Zanes

Your work revolves around the body, clearly… And it seems like you choose very unique and specific environments in which to present it. How much do you feel you using environment as subject with your body as a prop, versus the environment being merely a backdrop for you to display your body as the topic?

The connection between my body and the surrounding environment is very important to me… When I started to do photography, [coming to the US], it was mainly for the purpose of placing myself in the new environment, to justify to myself that I belong… That kind of anxiety of displacement faded into another direction over the years. I love NYC and it’s my second home now. I know that I belong. But I haven’t been able to visit my family and home country for more than five years and that sprouted new feelings and desires to return to my roots, to go back to the beginnings. I am from a small town, we have a farm, [and] running around in fields, woods, climbing rocks, trees, rolling around in dirt as I do in my latest self-portrait series – it is all very natural and playful reflection of who I am and where I come from.

Speaking of environments, how has coming to the US influenced your work? What made you make the move?

… I didn’t feel like Czech could offer me what I was looking for as a female artist at that time… I don’t like to get too comfortable with my life because than I get lazy and stagnant and I like to feel pressure to keep moving. Moving to US has changed my work approach completely, mainly in the sense of what media I use… When I moved to New York, I transitioned to photography after I saw Francesca Woodman’s show. That was a breaking point for me.

[Francesca Woodman] was considered to be notoriously utilizing self portraiture as a cathartic tool for identity-seeking. How much do you relate to this idea?… What about her got you so interested in the medium?

Woodman’s show at the Guggenheim was really important moment for me …and I felt a bit lost at that time, after once again moving [to] a new city and not knowing anybody, not knowing how, and if, I will adjust myself. Her search for identity hit very close to what I was going through, and I realized that photography was a perfect tool how to cope and explore all that.

I can imagine that your work is often construed as sexual, approaching sex as the main theme… Do you relate to this? If not, how do you manifest what you are trying to say in your work through the images?

…In the self-portrait series I use nude female body in nature, and based on that it is seen as sexual. But that is just too square and shallow to see only that. It reveals way more than just nude body. In contrast with the rugged rocks or the soft deep moss where I can bury my whole face, in fallen dead flower leaves, I capture my body— often headless, face-less, entwined in trees, lost in it’s own being. It is my search for belonging, fight with displacement, way how to ease feelings off loss and emptiness after growing up surrounded by nature, but with disturbed childhood of alcoholic father who died two days before my 16th birthday. It is my way of dealing with such a loss, and finding how that defined me into who I am today.

Do you get uneasy when you are around people looking at your body so intimately in the images? How do you think this type of work and content has effected your ‘body-image’?

No, that doesn’t make me uneasy. I actually like to observe people’s reaction to my photos, I like to talk to them and hear what they have to say. I don’t photograph myself for the purpose of looking sexy as we are used to see in mainstream media. I am interested in the angle that is showing the female body in a raw, real and uncensored way.

What camera do you use?

Canon 5d mark II that I bought used few years ago, and [a] Yashica T4, which I absolutely love and use mainly for my ongoing project of portraits of young kids around NYC.

What draws you to NYC?

So many things! I love the energy of the city, people who live here. I am thankful for all the amazing shows that one can see in museums and galleries, the diversity and madness of this city. I love the hectic and saturated lifestyle!

Do you miss growing up on a farm? What is your favorite memory of that? What is your least favorite…?

I miss my home and family but I don’t think I could live in my small town anymore. I love the memories of hot summer days and the sound of gentle breeze in the pine tree in front of my window. I miss walking home from a bar late at night and smelling the horses and goats when entering our driveway. It’s mainly the smells and little moments that I miss and of course, my mom. Seeing her only on digital screen through Skype is sometimes very hard for me.

What is your favorite place to find clothing in NYC?

My most favorite place where to find clothing is my boyfriend’s closet! I love to wear his stuff.

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Pornhub's 4th Annual Awards Ceremony is Here

Nominees were announced on pornhub.com/awards. Popularity will be judged based on how many times an actor was searches, as well as how many times their videos have been viewed. This data-driven voting is what sets the Pornhub awards apart from other award ceremonies, making them the most democratic awards show in history. Votes can be cast by viewers for various fan categories, all of which will be done strictly on the official award website. Winners will be announced March 23, 2022.

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Enter the New Era of Erotica with YouPorn

Youporn is celebrating the never-ending possibilities of erotica with its new collection of stories. For the first anniversary of the Erotica section of their website, Youporn wanted to curate a collection of stories that provides content for everyone and celebrates the world of written erotica. Youporn prides itself on the diversity and inclusivity highlighted in their chosen writers and the stories they tell. The Erotica library is an inclusive community that celebrates authors and readers alike, uplifting community and telling stories that share honest portrayals of passion.

Check out Youporn's featured erotic authors here.

Meet YouPorn's anniversary contributors.

Alexander Pushkin

Pushkin was not only a nobleman, but also a novelist, poet, and playwright. This book Secret Journal was so erotic in nature that it quickly became one of the most controversial books in Russian literature. Found in the USSR in 1976 it was finally published in the USA in 1986.

Aurore

Founded by Carly Pifer, Aurore is a queer and feminist erotica collective. Real people telling real sex stories, Aurore is a place for women and the LGBTQ+ to share their most intimate experiences.

Fran Tirado

The New York Times dubbed Fran Tirado a "queer champion." A jack of all trades, Tirado is a producer, writer, editor, and co-host of the podcasts The Outcast, Food 4 Thot, and Queerly Beloved.

Jedy Vales

A 24 year old Leo living in Los Angeles, Jedy Vales is YouPorn's virtual brand ambassador and your one stop shop for all things YP.

Judith Regan

American television and radio talk show host, book publisher, producer, and editor Judith Regan explore work place romances in her piece No Way Out!

Lea DeLaria

Three-time SAG award winner Lea DeLaria's career has seen many sucessful occupations spanning over multiple decades. As the first openly gay comic on American television, DeLaria explores her own sexual awakening in her piece, Muff Diva.

Leah McSweeney

Known for her streetwear brand 'Married to the Mob' and her spot on Bravo's 'Real Housewives of New York City' Leah McSweeney is an advocate for female empowerment, mental health, sexual health, and creative entrepreneurship.

Papi Juice

Papi Juice is a collective studio and art collective that centers and uplifts the voices and lives of queer and trans people of color. Established in 2013, the collective has been changing the face of New York City nightlife, giving a platform to and spotlighting artists of color.

Precious Okoyomon

New York City artist and poet Precious Okoyomon is no stranger to public displays of their art, having performed in galleries in Paris and London. Precious explores a foreign love story in their piece Love in the time of Covid-19

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CripFag

July 20, 2021

Michigan-born and Florida-based photographer and artist, Robert Andy Coombs, extends an open invitation to the consumer to engage in an intimate part of his life. CripFag is a series of photographs that explores the intersections of his sexuality and disability.

After breaking his neck in 2009, he quickly realized that disability and sexuality was an extremely under-discussed and underrepresented topic. His doctors, therapists, and nurses didn’t feel like it was their job to teach him how his body worked sexually after such a catastrophic change.

He took matters into his own hands and scoured the internet for wheelchair porn but there wasn’t much to look at. However, after watching a few videos, he decided to reach out to others who found themselves in a similar situation. It was a lot of experimentation and finding other guys who were willing to experiment with him.

Text by Ronald Kahihikolo
Photos by Robert Andy Coombs

“After exploring my body for a few years, I got a handle on how it worked," he says. "That’s where I started documenting and creating images about my fantasies, fetishes, caregiving, intimacy, and sex so others like me could get inspired to have amazing sex and educate the able-bodied population.”

Coombs will be exhibiting this photo series at Florida International University in Miami from August 14 - November 16. In the meantime, you can check out the series below.