Join us for the launch of Anxious to Please, a photo book by Ottilie Landmark exploring the nuances of human sexuality and intimate connection. Taking a lens to the dynamics of BDSM, kink, and fetish, Landmark’s publication moves beyond the existing cultural frameworks and visual iconography of these activities, instead focusing on the people, the unique emotional intensity, and the states of mind the play creates. Landmark will discuss the project with NYC curator, historian, and cultural critic Jeppe Ugelvig.
At the core of the project are ten people Landmark began photographing in 2020, leading to ongoing friendships and relationships of care in documenting their intimate erotic selves and encounters. Through their openness, the book provides a nuanced and multifaceted portrayal of desire, highlighting the vulnerability and care that are essential aspects of the play.
The book combines photographs with fragments of interviews conducted by Anastasiia Fedorova, an author who explores fetish and kink in her own work and life. These first-person insights offer new perspectives on seemingly fringe practices—from rubber or nylon fetishes to power exchange to needle play—and invite the viewer to rethink what they know about desire, closeness, and trust.
