Photographer Ottilie Landmark’s Anxious to Please exhibition and upcoming photo book documents heightened moments of sexual exploration in queer kink culture
It has been well reported that young people are supposedly averse to sex. In the 2023 Dazed Sex Survey, Gen Z was noted as the demographic having the least of it (with most other groups not getting much either), and some reports have even suggested that the generation’s more puritanical views have killed the concept of the one-night stand.
The ongoing rise of the alt-right and widespread conservatism has had diabolical consequences on LGBTQ+ communities, and the frightening popularity of incel culture has caused straight women to option for celibacy as a reaction to having their rights stripped away in a post-Roe vs. Wade era. It’s causing bad vibes in the bedroom, for everyone. Despite everything, the queer kink scene endures. As the adage goes, “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but whips and chains excite me”.
In her exciting new project, aptly named Anxious to Please, Danish-born, London-based photographer Ottilie Landmark explores the nuances of these intimate connections. “In a time of heightened precarity for queer people, it’s important to create work that celebrates human connection,” she explains.
Landmark’s main inspiration for shooting came from reading the book Leash by queer author Jane Delynn during the pandemic. “I think reading it while being isolated made me realise how short life is and how important it is to make the most of it,” she says. The story follows a nameless New York lesbian who uses kink as an escape from the mundanities of everyday life. “It hit me that I’d never really asked myself what I was actually into... and that realisation – of being a big question mark – was both terrifying and fascinating. I am still exploring my own relationship to desire and will probably continue to do so for the rest of my life.”
BDSM is often portrayed in an intimidatingly rigid way, making the practice feel cold and almost inaccessible for those who could have an inkling to play. “It wasn’t until I began photographing people for the book that I understood how much caregiving and trust are at the heart of these encounters,” Landmark describes. “There’s a deep vulnerability and trust that needs to be shared between both people: I think there’s something universally valuable in that, no matter what anyone is into.”
I am still exploring my own relationship to desire and will probably continue to do so for the rest of my life – Ottilie Landmark
Acting as a voyeur, Landmark had permission to shoot her subjects from a unique perspective. “Being invited into those intimate moments and just observing has felt really humbling,” she notes. “You’re in these vulnerable spaces, but you’re also not fully part of it, which creates a unique kind of connection.” Although there’s a loose plan beforehand, there’s a freedom to adjust and play throughout the process. “It’s really about tuning into what my subjects are drawn to and how they want to be portrayed, allowing the shoot to unfold naturally.”
In the pages of Landmark’s photo book on the project, Anxious To Please, you’ll find textual excerpts from established kink writer Anastassia Fedorova, who was part of the project from the beginning. Besides conducting the interviews with all the subjects and being the editor, Fedorova provided invaluable support on both the casting and shooting process. “I think she really understands how to translate my images into words,” says Landmark. “Due to her in-depth knowledge of kink and fetish culture, she can add context to the imagery, providing a narrative that complements the visual side of the project.”
Anxious To Please is having a fundraising exhibition event at The Photobook Cafe in Shoreditch from Friday until Sunday, featuring a now sold-out erotic reading event where a group of six cross-disciplinary artists will be getting together to read some “filthy” erotica through fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Moderated by Anastasiia Fedorova, it includes Jack O'Brien, Ajamu X, Max Disgrace, Black Venus, plus Landmark herself. The show will feature a special selection of prints from the book, with the opportunity to buy prints of these images and pre-order the book.
As it is still in the fundraising phase of production, readers can help Landmark reach her goal by donating to her GoFundMe. Thank you, deviants.