Erotic Motion Studies — Luca Varano

Erotic Motion Studies

2021 - 2022, Medium Format

While reviewing the contact sheets, I became increasingly interested in the small shifts between each frame. The natural movements of the body, slight changes in light, posture, or focus began to stand out. Over time, these subtle differences felt more compelling than any single image. This led to the decision to present entire rolls, showing the full sequence exactly as it was captured.

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Erotic Motion I, 2021

Inspired by Eadweard Muybridge’s early nude motion studies. Often referenced for their contributions to science and the development of motion picture technology, Muybridge’s work also holds a quieter, more complex erotic quality. His photographic grids of nude bodies, frequently male, often in ambiguous or intimate gestures, suggest a fascination with the physical form that goes beyond scientific inquiry. Though framed as studies of anatomy and movement, these images also serve as early examples of the male nude as subject, not just object.

My project draws from that history while shifting the context. These images are not meant to hide their sexual nature. They are raw and true.

Erotic Motion II, 2021

All images were made on medium format film using a Mamiya 6 or Mamiya 7, handheld with no tripod, and triggered using the camera’s self-timer. The process was intentionally loose and physical, allowing movement and imperfection to shape the frame.

Erotic Motion III, 2021

Luca Varano

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