Thomas van de Scheck, born in Cairo in 1965, photographs his models against a white background on principle. In the result nothing distracts the eye from the main subject - the person and all her/his emotions. Each photo is more than simply the depiction of a moment; it automatically implies complete faces that stand out in the mind’s eye. Often the faces are evil, if not to say hellish. They tell of inner fears, a battle with the person’s own body, of rebellion against institutionalized society, of animalistic visible and he demonstrates that it is possible to sell fashion with funny pictures.

And humour, in fact, is probably the single most important, most defining feature of Thomas van de Scheck’s work. Even his most ‘outrageous’ images are staged in a way intended to make you smile or laugh out loud. It is clear that he is determined to provide an antidote to the seriousness which characterises so many depictions of fetish subject matter.

His viewpoint, however, is not that of the outsider picking an easy target to mock – namely those freaks in their rubber, leather and chains. His pictures are created very much from the aspect of the affectionate insider who invites us to laugh with his subjects, not at them.

And this is his way of seeking the truth – of finding answers ‘far beyond the common questions’ as he himself puts it. Van de Scheck’s ultimate aim is to confront people with their last and inner truth. And if we are both outraged and entertained in the process, then so much the better.

The photographer who lives in Fulda/Germany and who has also worked as editor and author was bassist in the band “Cancer Barrack”, producer and gallery owner. His photos appeared in Skin Two, Marquis, Secret, Savage and many more magazines.

At time he has published the following photo books:

CUTS (2004 – art-manufaktur – ISBN: 3980854582)

H.E.L.P [Hell: Enters:Life:Permanently] (2006 – Ubooks – ISBN: 3866080506)