Tongues are wagging about Steven Meisel’s latest story. Originally shot for Italian Vogue, it was then dropped by the magazine as it was too racy. This editorial, all phosphorescent whites (a result of night vision shots) was eventually published by V magazine. This features models Anna Selezneva, Daul Kim, Iris Strubegger and Naty Chabanenko in sexually explicit poses.
Steven Meisel – “Dogging”, 2008 – V magazine
The story is said to by shocking as it reflects a sexual practice galled “dogging” (well quite similar to “cruising” if it were to involve men only!). This practice was actually beautifully and well documented by Japanese photographer Kohei Yoshiyuki throughout the seventies in a series of pictures called “The Park”. The eerily and strange composition of these shots (all taken under cover in different parks in Tokyo, and documenting both “cruising” and “dogging” phenomenons) puts the spectator on the same line as the creepy voyeurs in the pictures.
Kohei Yoshiyuki – untitled, 1971 from “The Park”
Here Steven Meisel revisits Kohei Yoshiyuki ‘s work – recreating several shots in a fashion manner, but his models are just posing with little designer clothes on, playing adult stuff, while Kohei Yoshiyuki’ stolen depiction of his subjects leave you with an uneasy feeling of awe, curiosity and lust.
Kohei Yoshiyuki’s book, “The Park” was reprinted by Hatje Cantz and the Yossi Milo Gallery. It features the complete series as well as an essay and an interview of the photographer with Nobuyoshi Araki.