NoBody's Perfect
A calender with naked pictures of people born with severe malformities due to the drug Thalidomide – is that allowed? It was certainly an unusual idea that Niko von Glasow had. The fact that he himself is affected from the side effects of this medication puts the multimedia project in a different light.
- A portrait photo from Nobody's Perfect
This project was absolute virgin territory for Niko von Glasow. Although he himself is disfigured from the drug thalidomide, as film director he doesn’t thematise the topic of disability once throughout the film. There simply was no reason for him to do so. Up until then he had always suppressed his body and his disability. What he couldn’t ignore however was the way that people reacted with uncertainty about his appearance.
A different picture
But with the decision to put other people with disabilities naked before the camera, came the realization that he would also have to look more closely at himself. Only when he had the courage to bare all in front of the camera himself, was he ready to take on the project. The search for the eleven other models was less of a problem than had been originally anticipated. The idea, to shoot photos with the expression of strength, dignity and integrity, was well received. The portrayed models had the opportunity to present themselves in a situation removed from their everyday difficulties and to show the beauty of imperfection.
Conscious provocation
It was clear from the outset that the project would not always be met with understanding. In the end the topics “disability” and “naked” are often sensitive issues, but the combination of both together broke the ultimate taboo. It is exactly this provocation that Niko von Glasow wanted to achieve; that the observers start to reflect on their own mistakes and imperfections and begin to see the “person” in people. Because, as Niko established during the project, that despite of having similar limitations, the twelve people that came together for the project had all completely different characters.
hia - 10/2008. Translation: PmcC
The works
- The Calendar: 12 high glance photos for the year 2009 in A3 format.
- The Book: The models from the Calendar and their biographies. 72 pages with ca. 40 pictures.
- The Film: The documentation of the photo shoots as well as the personal background of the protagonists, including sequences from the exhibition in front of the Dome in Cologne and the reactions of passers-by. 84 Minutes.
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