Exhibition in Linz

Star photographer with a great passion for the present

Fashion photography Elfie Semotan, Gerhard Friedl, Vienna(Bild: Elfie Semotan)

No smiles, no whitewashing light and maximum freedom - these are the premises of star photographer Elfie Semotan (82). The Francisco Carolinum in Linz is showing a cross-section of the work of the artist, who once made her breakthrough with campaigns for Palmers and Römerquelle.

Elfie Semotan, a famous icon of photography with roots in Upper Austria, staged her work for Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and the New Yorker Models in a completely different way, taking her cue from posture and poses in art, among other things.

As far away as possible
With her approach away from the glamorous, Semotan took fashion photography out of its niche and introduced it to fine art and performance aesthetics. "As far away as possible from the conventional in classic fashion photography," she says. Interesting fact: she has worked closely with Helmut Lang for many years.

Elfie Semotan, pictured right, is also present at the Capital of Culture; here with Andrea Bier, Gmunden(Bild: Wolfgang Spitzbart)

From the series "Palm Springs" in 2004 by Elfie Semotan(Bild: Elfie Semotan)

View of the exhibition(Bild: kunst-dokumentation.com)

View of the exhibition(Bild: kunst-dokumentation.com)

Back to the future
Semotan's breakthrough in Austria came with campaigns for Römerquelle and Palmers; large-format posters of women in lingerie caused a stir. But she also always devoted herself to portraits, landscapes and still lifes. A successful exhibition at the Francisco Carolinum now offers a clear cross-section of her extensive oeuvre.

What also distinguishes the star photographer is her love of the present: Semotan is currently working intensively with digital photography.