- Helen Smith
- Bordello Series: Maggies House #8, 2002
- Colour photograph on zinc plate
- 60 x 85 cm
These photographs focus principally on the decorative and architectural features of domestic interiors. Revealing glimpses of objects and figures, they entice the viewer into an almost participatory relationship with the image.
The photographs are taken inside bordellos and focus principally on details within the individualised rooms. The shots are minimal in detail, offering only a mediated glimpse into this concealed world.
Full of richly saturated colours these photographs invite the viewer to participate in the construction of the site as one of desire, intrigue, disappointment and so on. The images are informative in what limited information is depicted, and mystifying by the degree of detail not shown.
As throughout history with the works of Tolous Lautrec’s Parisian nightlife or the ‘Floating World” of the Japanese mater woodblock prints, the works do not celebrate the seedy side of prostitution, yet document in a cool fashion the world where most people don’t normally venture.
Maggies is an ‘establishment’ located in Kings Cross. Stella’s Red House was taken whilst visiting Kalgoorlie.
- Collections: Art Collection