Lúa Adler

Berlin-based Lúa Adler's work explores the female form through the gaze of the Other. Focusing on the objectification of women throughout history, she aims to re-contextualise demeaning and degrading images of women by transforming them into works of art. By presenting these images in a new medium, she offers a new perspective for the viewer with the intention of erasing any degradation of the women.

Her work is inspired by vintage erotic and pornographic photography mainly from the 1920s to the 1960s, as well as photographers concerned with abstracting the female form such as Irving Penn and Ruth Bernhard. When working from erotic/pornographic images, Adler transforms inherently objectifying and demeaning images of women into works where the women become beautiful, strong, and most importantly, human. She creates a space where previously disrespected women are to be respected: as people, as art. Works such as 'Homage to Ruth Bernhard's 'Classic Torso, 1952' form part of the series in order to bring all types of photographed women from the 1900s into the same space, to create a unity between all women, no matter whether their photograph was intended for artful contemplation or a hard-on. These works were born to show solidarity ...

Adler spent one year at Metáfora Taller d'Arte in Barcelona studying Fine Art in 2014. After a short period in London, she then moved to Berlin in 2017 where she developed her interest in print making after researching further into the German woodcut tradition. Adler is predominantly self-taught, and now lives and works in Berlin.