SPEECH 17 – Gama Hall Special Feature 6% of Raw Beauty –Face to face with Maco Hsu

Maco engaged in a more free-style way of interacting with his audience, as to debunk erotic art as a taboo subject. During the talk, Maco explains how Asian countries’ reluctance to openly discussion such topics became his motivation for erotic photography.

Erotic photography: Raw emotion in its best form

Erotica ≠ pornography. Erotic art, differing from pornography’s stark nakedness, is not about revealing the body, but rather capturing a very raw yet intimate moment of pure emotion. It is the act immortalizing such, in a mere seconds of time, that Maco finds most difficult. In his works, Maco deliberately shuns away from the dramatic side of erotica, and uses amateur models instead, in order to get a true, un-posed reaction from his subjects. He opts for disposable cameras and phone cameras, believing that professional lens are not necessarily closer to the common life. It takes much more than fancy instruments to capture a slice of reality. Maco prefers his topics not to be predetermined, and does not discuss with his models beforehand, either. This is essential for the work to speak for its own nude, original form of beauty.

Due to Asian cultural customs, the audience was reluctant to ask questions about erotica at first. However, after Maco explained it from an artistic perspective, gamanians were able to muster their boldness and develop a vivid discussion. ▲Maco appoints a gamanian himself to ask a question. Congratulations to Jake Lee (left) on receiving Maco’s gallery collection!