A KALTBLUT exclusive. Cochon de Cauchemar [they] aka their subpersona Nympho-Ménage are a freakitsch sex-disruptive artist based in Berlin. Connected to the local queer feminist sex/body-positive scene, they create costumes, props, sets, installations, designs and narratives for experimental photo and video projects in which they often perform themselves.
As a personal strategy for dealing with deep anxieties towards the human gendered, sexed, sexual and sexualized body, their artistic expression focuses on issues and environments whose daily experience has an intimate resonance for them and which crystallize a great deal of paradox and socio-cultural relevance: the domestic sphere, where they can indulge their passionate alienation/alienating passion for housework! … and reflect on the historical correlation of female* identity and socialization with control, order, hygiene or even beauty and eroticism.
Long fascinated by tropes such as neurotic housewives, shrews and tyrannical mothers (-with a number of inspiring figures in her own family history!), Nympho-Ménage shamelessly claim their title of Domestic Dominator! With a touch of sarcasm and absurdity.
Graduated in Fashion and Textile Design in France, Cochon de Cauchemar deviated from the boring route and rather make their odd-kitsch-smut stuff in the corner to shake up people’s conceptions of what art dealing with the body and sexuality can be… through the twisted sensitivity of a obsessive-compulsive freak somewhere on the asexual spectrum.
Art direction, concept and costume design by Cochon de Cauchemar aka Nympho-Ménage / Instagram: @nympho_menage
Photography by Kai Heimberg (pictures 1, 2, 3) / www.heimberg-fotografie.com/home / Instagram: @heimberg_fotografie
Theo Meow (picture 4) / www.meow.wtf / Instagram: @theo.meow.berlin
Manuel Laval (picture 5) / mailinfos.myportfolio.com
Rüdiger Schestag (pictures 6 & 7) / www.ruediger-schestag.de / Instagram: @thereallifegallery
Angel Ka (pictures 8, 9, 10) / Instagram: @anges_hells
Hannes Häfele (picture 11) / www.luminea.eu/Home.html / Instagram: @luminea_beauty
Klass Vermeer (picture 12) / www.model-kartei.de/sedcards/fotograf/394583/klaas-vermeer
Models are:
Cochon de Cauchemar as Nympho-Ménage / Instagram: @nympho_menage
Jo Sordini as the Messy Puppy (pictures 6 & 7) / Instagram: @femme.boyant
Photo edition by Cochon de Cauchemar / Instagram: @nympho_menage
Costume design for the Messy Puppy by Jo Sordini (pictures 6 & 7) / Instagram: @femme.boyant
Fashion Aside from Cochon de Cauchemar’s creations and unknown pieces, brands used for clothing & accessories are:
Buffalo @buffaloshoes / H&M @hm / Flying Tiger Deutchland @flyingtigerde / Netto Marken-Discount @netto_marken_discount / Woolworth Deutschland @woolworthdeutschland
