Paris Chong sits with renowned photographer Mona Kuhn to discuss her career journey, including the publication of her numerous books (technically ten, despite initial counting errors), and her collaborative work with various publishers. She shares an anecdote about her early career when Gerhard, a publisher, decided to create a book of her photographs, as a pivotal moment for her. Kuhn also elaborates on how each of her books resonates differently in various markets, such as Europe and the U.S., and her experience working with multiple publishers like Thames & Hudson and Stanley/Barker.
The conversation delves into Kuhn’s artistic process, her perspective on nude photography, and the inspiration she draws from various experiences. She explains that her approach to photography, particularly nudes, is influenced by her childhood experiences, especially her grandparents' natural attitude towards nudity. Kuhn also reveals that her photography class friends did not continue art professionally except her, which puts a sense of responsibility on her for her work. She talks about her book featuring a male nude named Charles, and how it was an exploration of the body and a deviation from typical nude photography. She also discusses her multimedia presentations and collaborations, like incorporating sound into her exhibitions with her composer husband.
Finally, Mona Kuhn reflects on her journey as an artist, from her early days with a Kodak camera to her current exhibitions and projects. She discusses her recent exhibition at the Getty featuring books by historical female photographers, which she was also included in with other Southern California female photographers. She mentions her "Kings Road" series with its immersive projections and sound, as well as her upcoming series of still photographs inspired by summers in France. Kuhn shares her multilingual background and how moving to the U.S. influenced her English language acquisition, adding personal depth to her discussion of art and life experiences.
Episode Timestamps
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:39) Mona Kuhn
(00:01:38) 7 Books
(00:06:27) Male Models
(00:08:57) How Did You Start Shooting Nudes
(00:12:28) Happy For Success
(00:14:03) New Exhibitions
(00:16:00) Art Heroes
(00:16:36) Next Art Projects
(00:21:52) Actual Next Projects
(00:24:31) Natural Relationship to Nudity
(00:28:10) Artistic Perspective
(00:30:38) Germany and Brazil
(00:34:27) More of Mona
(00:35:54) Outro
Links to Mona Kuhn
- Mona Kuhn's Website - Link
- Mona's Instagram - Link
- Mona's Studio Facebook - Link
- Mona's LinkedIn- Link
- Mona's Youtube - Link
- Wikipedia of Mona - Link
- Jackson Fine Art - Link
- Houk Gallery - Link
- Mona's Book on Amazon - Link
🎵 Music by Andrew Raiher
📸 Shot & Edited at Visible Audio Studios
