‘What I don't want are reproductions of clichés or sterile aestheticising. For me, the nude is human beauty and power.’

With these words, photographer Norbert Vogel (1944-2023) described his approach to nude photography. His depictions of naked people reflect his unconventional perspective and yet are influenced by the beauty ideals of his time.
After studying under Heinz Köppel at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst from 1965 to 1970, Vogel created a diverse body of work as a freelance photographer in which people are always the centre of attention.

The Analogue Art Photography gallery became aware of the artist's nudes in his archive. This gave rise to the idea for the exhibition ‘Ungeschoent Wunderschoen’ and an international competition, which will be on display at the Analog Art Photography gallery in the Pittlerwerke Leipzig from 21 February 2025.

The focus of the presentation is on the authentic and aesthetic depiction of the human body - without digital image processing or artificial filters. The analogue technique, with its unadulterated naturalness, enters into a special symbiosis with this demand on the nude.

As part of this concept, the gallery organised an international competition in November 2024 in which photographers were invited to submit their own interpretations and associations on the theme. The selected works form the contemporary part of the exhibition and the view of current photographers and artists.

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