„Backrooms“ or „darkrooms“ are dimly lit rooms generally situated at the back of night clubs used for sexual interaction in (mostly) gay venues.

The work Backrooms approaches the documentary depiction of such rooms, which basically and essentially are designated for sexual pleasure. The normally really dark atmosphere in those backrooms create an anonymity which attracts people. With reducing the visual selection and thereby eliminating a reason for rejection each person‘s inhibition level decreases and they feel more open to implement their real sexual preferences. Therefore these rooms function as a border between regular life and the more exciting hedonistic version of life. Normal guidelines each individual sets for himself do not exist in this environment, they are left behind in order to experience another reality free from limitations.

However, taking a picture of the well-lit and abandoned scenery transforms them to installations far from sexual thoughts. The conceptual idea of this series aspires to question how the perception of space alters. Does sexuality exist in those rooms without men being present? Is this room still a backroom or does depicting it well-lit change the room to something totally different? Why do humans set themselves borders but on the other hand create spaces where they crave for anonymity in order to fell free?

• Ulrike Ludwig – Spaces, Rooms and Edges
• All
• Claudia Hart – Mortifications