Kiss of Fire
photographed and written by Barbara Nitke
with an introduction by A.D. Coleman
Kehrer Verlag Heidelberg, October 2003.
61 B/W photographs in duotone, 104 pages,
$40.
Distributed in the US by
Consortium Book Sales and Distribution
Available at Amazon.com
A continuation of Barbara Nitke's exploration
of issues of human sexual desire, KISS OF FIRE is
a respectful, humane look at sadomasochism as practiced
between loving, trusting partners in committed relationships.
It provides a non-exploitive insight into a practice
an estimated 10% of Americans participate in with
consensual partners.
"Ever
since Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs were used
to help justify the defunding of the National Endowment
of the Arts, there has been a question whether sadomasochism
is a fit subject for art. Barbara Nitke answers
with a resounding YES! in her new book, KISS OF
FIRE.
"Nitke presents a world of sadomasochism
that few will ever see. Her photographs can be shocking
at times in their frankness. A bound man cries out
in pleasure and agony as another man behind him, naked
to the waist, plays upon his body. A pale woman is
seated on a toilet, vulnerable and timid, with all
of her attention focused on the woman leaning over
her. An explosion of fire brightens two dim figures,
both dancing as if in an ancient tribal rite.
"Each of Nitke's photographs is attuned
to the interplay between the partners and the love
that manifests even in the most extreme sexual encounters.
Their interaction feels spontaneous; a charged moment
frozen in time. Yet each scene is framed in a gently
formal composition that makes even the most outrageous
accruements seem beautiful.
"In KISS OF FIRE, Nitke writes of her
experience exploring the SM community and her increasing
desire to photograph the lovers she saw. 'I couldn't
help watching them together at parties,' Nitke
says, 'Flying on their endorphins, lost in each
other. I loved the ones who would spend days cooking
up intricate, delicious scenes to tantalize the other
and then talk about it afterwards like mischievous
kids.'
"Nitke has captured the intense energy
of these couples' passion as well as the deep intimacy
and trust that is required to engage in SM. For anyone
who has ever wanted a deeper look into the glorious
contradictions of kinky sexuality, KISS OF FIRE is
a must for you."
-Susan Wright
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