Adrián Coto aka Señor Babe is a London-based visual artist offering photographic portraiture for the queer, the joyful and the alternative. He is also available for artistic commissions and teaching. His work ‘interrogates the materiality of the body and the gendered subject as a political construct.’ We caught up with Adrián to understand his personal journey in the world of sensual photography.
- Could you introduce yourself and what you do?
- What photography services do you provide?
- What was your journey into this world?
- How would you describe your photography style in a nutshell?
- Can you present one of your favourite photos that you have taken?
- What do you you wish more people knew about sensual photography?
- What is your usual process for a shoot from start to finish?
- Who are your artist inspirations?
- How has your relationship with what you do evolved over time?
- What are your hopes for the future in this world?
Could you introduce yourself and what you do?
I’m Adrián, a Costa Rican visual artist. I moved to London 3 years ago to take a masters degree in photography art. I worked as a photographer from 2011 until I came here, mostly in commercial settings, but my interest shifted towards the world of art photography and eventually contemporary art.
I went to both art school and psychology school, where I got interested in queer theory, psychoanalysis and other theoretical issues, which led me to poly, kink and queer world exploration. When I moved to London those became my go-to communities and when I decided to restart a photographic projects with the aims of selling services that’s the community I want to engage with.
What photography services do you provide?
My main interest is photographic portraiture, with a sensual twist and a very experimental approach.
I prefer working one on one as I believe it’s about reaching a level of complicity and intimacy that requires a bit of patience and effort.
Besides that, I enjoy teaching and mentoring artists, my nerdy expertise in lighting in particular has gotten me a reputation. Everything I do has a little bit of flash, even if it seems not to be the case.
What was your journey into this world?
Curiously my journey into kink began quite closely to my photography adventures in 2007. I explored non monogamy after reading Paul Preciado and their take about the dildo in their contrasexual manifesto, I found myself so identified with these views and practices. After a very intense first experience with kink and non monogamy I bought my first camera and it started taking over all of my creative practice.
Fast forward to 2021, I believe my first small party was at Murder Mile and then KV at Fire. I began making friends, networking and getting to know event organizers and now just this year I decided to offer portraiture for that community.
How would you describe your photography style in a nutshell?
You could describe my style as slutty glam, even dreamy. I try to co-create a fantasy.
But I also like to reach out to the creativity of the human being in front of me, ask them to bring ideas and pitch on their execution.
Can you present one of your favourite photos that you have taken?
That is a hard one! Over the years you accumulate so many. But if I had to choose I’d go for this one, it is titled “The liquid body” and it’s quite elaborate in the technique and it’s also the first awarded image I created. It’s a mix of flash and led light with long exposure, stitching 4 different moments in a single flow. It meant at the moment my own perspective on the mutability of identity visible in the body.
What do you you wish more people knew about sensual photography?
There’s a fun struggle in sensual photography, the line between normalization and trivialization.
I believe portraiture is an opportunity to unfix your identity from your image and explore, perform and be.
I am very resistant to essentialist positions; I don’t think photography can reveal. I prefer to see it as an opportunity to produce and invent, we are in motion internally.
What is your usual process for a shoot from start to finish?
It will always began as a conversation, both for hired work and for collabs. What’s on your mind and what’s on mine. Often I have periods and chase ideas for months, right now I’m in a “hard light” era, but I believe it’s coming to an end. I ask sitters to choose references and narrow down to their favorites and then we come up with a plan, setting up expectations and needs and logistics. I do give you homework… sorry but this is the best way to get closer to your inspiration!
Who are your artist inspirations?
My portraiture takes a lot from Rotimi Fane Kayode and Zanhele Muholi, both queer migrant and non white artists that work with self portraiture. I also have borrowed from Francis Bacon and Frida Kahlo, and more recently been quite impressed with Campbell Addy.
How has your relationship with what you do evolved over time?
Photography began as catharsis, became pure performance (as in high intensity performance) and now it’s a companion, a pleasant space for co-creation.
What are your hopes for the future in this world?
I wish to co create with people, offering the best of my services for anyone who wishes to perform for the lens and wants to embrace my aesthetic. Ultimately art is a collective endeavour.
Iso
Iso is a writer and filmmaker based in East London. She is passionate about all things erotic and leads a sexy, shame-free life in hope that she can inspire others to do the same. Originally from a Northern seaside town, she is naturally drawn to the best things in life: candyfloss, trashy karaoke bars and heart-shaped sunglasses.
Adrián Coto
Adrián Coto is a Latin American visual artist with a photography-based multidisciplinary practice. His work is the convergence of a complex academic reflection about subjectivity, gender, culture and economic concerns, interrogated through an unorthodox mixture of artistic strategies, material exploration and theoretical research.
