Eroticism is so hot right now

Passionate and erotic - that's the future direction of fashion photography, according to this exhibition at least. Presented by Moet & Chandon, the German model-turned photographer Ellen von Unwerth's saucy collection, Be Fabulous, is now running at the C5 Art Center.

Ingrid Sichy, editor-in-chief of Interview magazine, once said Ellen von Unwerth is "full of surprises". But it came as no surprise to the industry when Von Unwerth's career blossomed from behind the lens - as a model for 10 years, Unwerth had learned the other side of the camera from the best photographers in the business.

The 53-year-old's sensual and distinctive works have appeared in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Interview, The Face, Arena and iD, among other publications. Her iconic campaigns for Guess jeans in the early 1990s launched the photographer onto the international scene. She has since gone on to shoot other major advertising campaigns for Rolex, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria's Secret, Banana Republic, Alberta Ferretti, Lavazza, Diesel, Chanel, Miu Miu, Blumarine, Strenesse and Moet & Chandon, as well as a series of ads for HBO's Sex in the City.

In 1991 she was awarded first prize at the International Festival of Fashion Photography.

"As one of the few renowned female fashion photographers, Ellen captures images of women that radiate glamor and elegance in a sexy and confident manner," says Stephanie Xiao, director of C5 Art Center.

"She boldly challenges the role that men often play in visual arts to define feminine beauty. Women in her photos cherish a hedonistically liberal attitude towards life, abandoning clichd traditions and expanding their newly found power. Their beauty manifests in their attitude more than anything else."

Time: 10 am-7 pm, until December 6

Place: 5 Xi Wu Street, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District

Tel: 6460-3950

(China Daily 11/24/2007 page6)