BOOKS
Ellen von Unwerth -Heimat

The familiar feeling of “homeland”

“Homeland is not a place. Homeland is a feeling.” These words by Herbert Grönemeyer make it clear that homeland is much more than just a place on a map. Homeland is what characterises us throughout our lives, what defines our personality, what accompanies us everywhere like a second skin. The photographer Ellen von Unwerth, known for her work in the field of fashion and music photography, returns to the land of her childhood with her photo book “Heimat” and shows her deep connection to her Bavarian roots in numerous photographs. With her unmistakable artistic signature, she combines memories of traditional country life in the Allgäu with modern, provocative eroticism.

Bavarian idyll and sensuality

The journey leads through the idyllic Bavarian countryside, where the photographer skilfully stages the village girls Hilda, Traudel and Heidi. In their traditional dirndls, the young women embody a mixture of innocence and sensual provocation. In her pictures, Unwerth captures the spirit of rural life, which is characterised by simplicity, hard work and a deep respect for nature. She succeeds in effortlessly transporting the reader into this seemingly familiar and yet strange world. The photographs reflect the natural beauty of the Bavarian landscape and create an atmosphere of peace and security that draws the viewer ever more under its spell.

Staging with traditional costume and humour

Unwerth plays masterfully with traditional gender roles and stages her models sensually, with bright red lips and sometimes undressed in traditional costumes such as dirndls and lederhosen. In front of rustic farmhouses, in picturesque mountain landscapes and dense forests, often with fresh milk on their faces and décolleté, the pictures look like a mixture of erotic films from the 1970s and supermodels from the 1990s. The pictures are livened up by humorous scenes such as milking a cow or preparing a veal sausage, which give the pictures an additional storyline. This unique blend of old and new and self-irony is the special charm of Unwerth’s work.

Tradition and modernity combined

Ellen von Unwerth ironically breaks with the cliché of the unspoilt, unspoilt mountain world. With great attention to detail and a passion for telling stories in pictures, she succeeds in creating a respectful yet surprising portrayal of her homeland. Despite the emphasis on tradition and simplicity, the images are not lacking in glamour. The carefully styled and perfectly posed models lend the images a touch of elegance. The mixture of traditional costume and modern elements emphasises the timeless charm of the scenes depicted. With her book “Heimat”, published by Taschen Verlag, Unwerth has succeeded in combining the rustic beauty of Bavaria with a modern aesthetic that celebrates the past while pointing to the future.

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Further information

Further information on the book “Ellen von Unwerth – Heimat” (Advertising) can be found on the Taschen Verlag website.

Compliance

The book was kindly made available to us by the publisher. The presentation and rating of HYPERMADE remains independent of this and is based solely on the content of the book.