@portraithanoi / fuck it, that’s me

2019 - ongoing

In an era of overwhelming digital self-promotion through visuals, Daniel Nuderscher seeks to explore how emotional intimacy develops between two people and how this connection can be captured in photographs. Driven by a desire to escape his own loneliness, he meets strangers who are willing to participate in @portraithanoi in their homes. With great sensitivity, he engages in the process of getting to know each other, fostering real closeness between both without crossing any boundaries. The focus is on the moments of vulnerability between two individuals—the act of letting go and showing one’s true self, with all of their personal histories, desires, and emotional wounds. Daniel Nuderscher captures this intimate process through black-and-white photographs, conveying both sensitivity and insight.

„Fuck it, that’s me“ opens up the intimate world of the subjects for the audience, allowing us to feel the human presence behind the camera. It connects us with our own emotions, stirred by intense encounters with others: euphoria, security, but also the fear of loss, loneliness, and unfulfilled desires. With this project, Daniel Nuderscher presents the work he has developed over the past two years and, through the public exhibition, is inviting people to participate.

(Lena Kauer, 04.06.2022, Exhibition Text)

In approximately 150 sessions, a first “getting to know each other” takes place. During this time, spontaneous photographs are created that reflect the uniqueness of a genuine encounter between two strangers, capturing it in authentic portraits. These sessions often spark inspiring conversations about emotional intimacy, consent, and voluntary participation. There are moments of expansive silence, or creative collaboration, where new things emerge. Particularly in these times of the pandemic and digitalization, the act of „contact“ and the openness to meet a stranger takes on new meaning. Both participants not only get to know another person but also discover new aspects of themselves. The photographs fade into the background, created intuitively, and the emphasis is placed on the encounter, on building a connection, and on understanding both oneself and the other.

(Daphne von Schrader, November 2021)

The project delves into what an emotional portrait can reveal. Does it capture the moment of the photograph itself, reflecting what the subject reveals about themselves? Or is the photographer at the center, projecting his own emotions onto the subject? Or perhaps it is the viewers who activate their own emotions when viewing a portrait of a stranger? The answer is complex and deeply personal, and it is something that can be explored within this project.

(See Patrick Brakovski, SCHWARZWEISS Magazin)

You can see more of the sessions on Instagram @portraithanoi