The Perky Pecs of My Artistic Austrian Pen Pal

What makes a better holiday gift than reconnecting with old friends? I first met Austrian artist Matthias Herrmann almost 15 years ago when I ordered a book of his photographs off the internet. Sexually precocious even then, I hadn't even begun my porn career. We struck up an instant email exchange: my first (and only) electronic pen pal.

Several years back, we somehow managed to lose touch. What, to my great surprise, should I discover in my inbox this Thanksgiving? An email from Matthias, readying himself for a December trip to the States. He graciously accepted my offer of a brief interview for Fleshbot. The gallery pictures are samples of his most recent work.

Colby Keller: I see that your website is down, is there any where people can see recent work of yours? Do you have any shows opening?

Matthias Herrmann: There is a good show at Kunsthalle Wien right now, "No fashion, please," curated by Peter Weiermair, that features some works. I also have some pieces in the show "Beauty Contest" at the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York. I'll be participating in James Morrison's project "24 Days of Printed Matter" at Printed Matter in New York in December—which I think is a fantastic project. And Lee Plested invited me to be a part of the exhibition at The Apartment, "SO GAY!," that will open in December and which really looks great. (It's an online show).

My website is just closed for the "general public", people who wish to visit can shoot me an email and I'll send the password....

CK: A lot of your work has to do with the erotic and your own nude body, do you ever photograph other men in the nude?

MH: I did once make a series that involved me AND other men. But somehow it didn't work out so well so I stuck to myself again. I think I can get a more abstract vision when it's always the same body/person.

CK: Given that you work with your own body, what's the relationship between autoeroticism and an art practice?

MH:In my case it's a very close one, it feels like a closed circuit!

CK: Do you watch porn? If so, what turns you on?

MH: Yes, I do. I am very pro-porn. And I do go for the classic formats.

CK: If you were asked to make porn, how would you proceed?

MH: No clue, I hope I'll never get asked!

CK: Do you think there is a line between pornography and art? If so, what is it?

MH: Well I guess this really lies in the eye of the beholder and the social constructions around the two realms that are in constant flux. Some people judge something pornographic whereas others regard the same as merely erotic for instance. For myself, I try to not think too much about these categories. I still love Andy Warhol's saying: Art? Isn't it a boy's name? (Or however he put it exactly.)

· Check out Colby's Blog at BigShoeDiaries.blogspot.com

[This post is part of Fleshbot's Colby Keller Week.]