Erotica

"It is the east, and Lina is the sun."

In August 2009, amid the enchanting surroundings of the Orchid Exhibition at the Medellin Botanical Garden in Colombia, South America, I embarked on a photographic odyssey into the heart and essence of orchids and hibiscus flowers during the city's annual Festival of Flowers.

The genesis of this series can be traced back to a pivotal moment in 2006 when I first encountered Georgia O'Keeffe's iconic flower paintings while passing through Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her art transcended the ordinary, evoking a profound sense of beauty and mystery that stirred emotions I struggled to articulate. O'Keeffe planted a seed within my creative soul, igniting my curiosity to explore the inner sanctums of flowers.

While I initially immersed myself in the technical challenges of capturing intricate details, something remarkable unfolded on that day in Medellin—something that transcended the boundaries of mere technique.

It was only when I revisited these portraits on my computer screen days later that I realized the profound shift that had occurred. Amidst my photographic pursuit, I discovered that the electric ecstasy of love for my future wife, who accompanied me that day, radiated through each photograph. Now, fourteen years later, this series continues to capture only a fraction of the emotions that surged within me that day, leading me into realms of consciousness I had yet to explore.

These portraits serve as a poignant reminder that true love is often metaphorically found in the delicate intricacies that exist along the rim of a petal or in the subtle shadows of an anther, where the softest focus unveils the deepest beauty. In contrast, the rest of my understanding of love remains perpetually out of focus, even when my heart and body are ablaze with emotions beyond comprehension.

In these tender portraits, I invite you to join me in exploring the exquisite subtleties of nature and the profound emotions they elicit or mirror within us.

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