Sunday. Paul Kooiker.

Sunday. Paul Kooiker (The Netherlands).

Photographs by Paul Kooiker
Graphic design by Willem van Zoetendaal
Printed by Mart.Spruijt bv, Amsterdam
Binded by Geertsen, Nijmegen

Published by Van Zoetendaal, Amsterdam, 2011. Edition of 1,000 copies.

[Purchase: Van Zoetendaal, photo-eye, Dashwood Books]

A nude female model captured in various positions. This is Sunday, by Dutch photographer Paul Kooiker. Body, its possible shapes, poses and limits, becomes the subject of Kooiker’s photographic experiment. The books starts with an image of a model balancing on a table in a self-made studio in the backyard (dark and full of colourful flowers). Almost disturbing, yet respectful. Kooiker plays with positions, shapes, colours and expectations. These photographs of a woman resemble sculpture or landscape rather than portrait. Various poses bring certain dynamic. White flash and shiny black shoes in combination with other colours, create surreal and eccentric atmosphere. A model always looks away, we never see her face, and it makes it more voyeuristic.

“I like my audience to think, ‘Who is this photographer? What does he want me to look at? Do I like to look at it?’ They get confused about it, and ask themselves, ‘Am I allowed to look at it? Is it beautiful or not?’ All those aspects are very interesting to me”.

It is an excellent book with an elegant design. Beautifully printed and put together. Nice touch with a cover in a paper wrapper with a gloss.

More:

Interview with Paul Kooiker, Used Magazine
Paul Kooiker: Uncomfortable Truth