Florian is a photographer. Queer topics always influence his work when he portrays people. He combines this with shots of objects and shots of places to convey moods and his thoughts. They are a mixture of staged photographs and snapshots. “When I do more conceptual work, where I deal with a certain theme, this is very personal and so are the themes.”
Lichtung, 120 x 180 cm, 2019 © Florian Tenk
Florian had his last major exhibition in Kharkiv, a city in Ukraine. “It was about theater and dance in times of lockdown and the pandemic. It wasn't a queer exhibition per se, but in the end it was all gay dancers I portrayed.” He felt the importance of such issues especially when he was approached about his work by visitors to the exhibition. “This exhibition made me realize once again that queer issues do have a greater importance in society. In the last few years I’ve lost sight of that a bit, but I was already aiming to show queerness in that exhibiton: to exhibitintimate aesthetic photographs of men in a natural and free way, and thus be open about my sexuality.”
Documentation of diploma show, 2018
Florian has lived in Munich for 14 years. What he likes about Munich is that the city is orderly, clean and relaxed. That you feel safe here. At the same time, he thinks Munich is too conservative and not open-minded enough. “It's a love-hate relationship, also compared to Berlin. I like being in Berlin, but usually after a week I realize that I've had enough. A lot of things are too stressful for me there, like the long drives or the huge number of people.” As a queer photographer, you stand out more in Munich, but it is still difficult as an artist since costs are high and there are not enough exhibition options. “A lot of things aren’t really under your control. I mean, if you work and engage a lot, there’s a bigger chance of getting seen and then the chance of being invited to exhibitions is higher. Otherwise it all depends a lot on chance and luck.”
© Francesco Giordano, 2022
For Florian, queerness means: “Basically, it’s an openness to all sexualities and genders, so you don't even think about that and it doesn't make any difference. For me, a queer party is great when everyone is welcome there. When no one has to explain themselves or ascribe to anything in particular, and when people treat each other with mutual respect.” For Munich, he would like to see more parties like this, more safe spaces.
ONCE YOU TURN ME ON // YOU CANNOT TURN ME OFF, 2018 © Florian Tenk
© Francesco Giordano, 2022
Florian is a photographer. Queer topics always influence his work when he portrays people. He combines this with shots of objects and shots of places to convey moods and his thoughts. They are a mixture of staged photographs and snapshots. “When I do more conceptual work, where I deal with a certain theme, this is very personal and so are the themes.”
Lichtung, 120 x 180 cm, 2019 © Florian Tenk
Florian had his last major exhibition in Kharkiv, a city in Ukraine. “It was about theater and dance in times of lockdown and the pandemic. It wasn't a queer exhibition per se, but in the end it was all gay dancers I portrayed.” He felt the importance of such issues especially when he was approached about his work by visitors to the exhibition. “This exhibition made me realize once again that queer issues do have a greater importance in society. In the last few years I’ve lost sight of that a bit, but I was already aiming to show queerness in that exhibiton: to exhibitintimate aesthetic photographs of men in a natural and free way, and thus be open about my sexuality.”
Documentation of diploma show, 2018
Florian has lived in Munich for 14 years. What he likes about Munich is that the city is orderly, clean and relaxed. That you feel safe here. At the same time, he thinks Munich is too conservative and not open-minded enough. “It's a love-hate relationship, also compared to Berlin. I like being in Berlin, but usually after a week I realize that I've had enough. A lot of things are too stressful for me there, like the long drives or the huge number of people.” As a queer photographer, you stand out more in Munich, but it is still difficult as an artist since costs are high and there are not enough exhibition options. “A lot of things aren’t really under your control. I mean, if you work and engage a lot, there’s a bigger chance of getting seen and then the chance of being invited to exhibitions is higher. Otherwise it all depends a lot on chance and luck.”
© Francesco Giordano, 2022
For Florian, queerness means: “Basically, it’s an openness to all sexualities and genders, so you don't even think about that and it doesn't make any difference. For me, a queer party is great when everyone is welcome there. When no one has to explain themselves or ascribe to anything in particular, and when people treat each other with mutual respect.” For Munich, he would like to see more parties like this, more safe spaces.
ONCE YOU TURN ME ON // YOU CANNOT TURN ME OFF, 2018 © Florian Tenk