The young men Kingdome 19 photographs all have at least one commonality—they are fiercely sexy. The photographer then sets these hunks into a journey through time into a powerfully surreal world—as if in a Wicked Dream. The models are in classic poses which radiate power, vulnerability, and melancholy. These are all tinted black and white photos with full frontal nudity and many have erections.
A Provocative Photographer's Eloquent Collection: Opus 2
Grady Harp wrote on 12/27/2006:
WICKED DREAMS is a beautifully produced book of the further work of a German photographer who uses the moniker 'Kingdome 19'. For the past ten years he has stepped up from his training as a carpenter and graphic designer to focus on his true verve - representing 'emancipated gay identity'. His models are straight men, body builders, martial artists, prisoners and skinheads: his settings are derelict buildings and forgotten spaces. His subject matter is the nature of dreams, erotic photographs of his highly selected groups of men in full tumescence, and are a fine follow-up to his first highly successful book UNIVERSAL. His technique is hand wrought photographs worked from initial developing through the manipulation phase in his own darkroom.Not only are the men of this series magnificent specimens of unfettered masculinity, they are obviously very much at ease with Kingdome 19's vision. Using the texts of Elton John songs as themes these black and white and sepia toned images incorporate words and phrases, design elements and are molded with the artist's gift for using natural light in the most dramatic of ways.Clearly the book is aimed at a particular audience who are bound to be wholly satisfied with the product. But for lovers of fine photography, no matter the subject matter, WICKED DREAMS is an elegant, brave, seductive book and deserves an even broader audience - and may just be the beginning of more artistic gender equality for viewers! This is a very handsome, artistic, fine creative work. Grady Harp
