With “HÔTEL NOIR II,” Berlin photographer J. Konrad Schmidt presents a unique photographic work that combines the aesthetics of analog black-and-white film with the atmosphere of international grand hotels and the intimacy of female encounters. At the Berlin photography institution CHAUSSEE 36, the exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in a dark yet highly sensual world.
Image gallery
J. Konrad Schmidt, aus der Serie Hôtel Noir II, 2010 - 2026
J. Konrad Schmidt, aus der Serie Hôtel Noir II, 2010 - 2026
As an homage to female eroticism, this project opens up a protected space of intimacy and freedom for women, where they can explore and realize their own erotic fantasies. Since 2010, Schmidt has photographed anonymous women and professional models worldwide in cities such as London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, and New York.
Selected image sequences and motifs are revealed that clearly highlight Schmidt's distinctive visual style. His iconographic visual language unfolds a strong narrative density while leaving plenty of room for individual associations. Striking light-shadow contrasts refer to the tradition of film noir.
To this end, Schmidt collaborated with personalities such as Kristina Vogel and Viktoria Modesta, who shed light on the contemporary concept of inclusion and the private lives of people with disabilities. In this way, he follows his own life story and that of the people he works with.
In 2020, the first book, “HÔTEL NOIR,” won gold at the German Photo Book Award.
Now “HÔTEL NOIR II” is available, and Schmidt is presenting the first exhibition on the book at CHAUSSEE 36 with a selection of prints, including some previously unpublished images.
More than just a book project, “HÔTEL NOIR” is an artistic statement against the exclusive online reception of images and, at the same time, a tribute to the physical experience of photographic works.
The works are deliberately not accessible online—they are meant to be experienced in printed form, as a haptic and visual event that lingers in the memory.
The exhibition at CHAUSSEE 36 is a rare opportunity to experience the original silver gelatin prints.
J. Konrad Schmidt (*1984, Berlin) studied photography at the LAZI Academy in Stuttgart/Esslingen. His works have won numerous international awards. He is an appointed member of the DGPh – German Society for Photography, the BFF – Professional Association of Freelance Photographers and Film Designers, the ADC – Art Directors Club for Germany, and the AOP – Association of Photographers London.
- Opening: Friday, February 27, 2026, 8–10 p.m.
