“You are the Storyteller of your Own Life”
The ridiculous nudity taboo: “LE FRUIT DÉFENDU”
Sensual in the City: Maastricht
With Sensual in Maastricht, my mission is to honor the powerful essence of women.
“You are at your most powerful, joyful, and successful when living in your own naked truth”—this conviction is the heart of this project. Sensual in the City: Maastricht is a fine art series blending photography and painting, created in partnership with model Joy Draiki, showcasing nude compositions against some of Maastricht’s most iconic landmarks.
Within the city’s vibrant pulse, we transformed five historic locations—the Vrijthof, Helpoort, Plein 1992, the Saint Servaas Bridge, and Tafelstraat—into powerful visual stories of feminine strength. Each image captures the undeniable presence and mystery of womanhood.
On August 19, 2019, I traveled to Maastricht with my team and Joy to bring this vision into reality. Ultimately, this series will include five evocative images and several paintings, each one an expression of empowerment. “Through this work, I aim to emphasize that women are strong and at the center of the world, both literally and symbolically,” explains Edwin. “By capturing a woman in her most vulnerable, unguarded state within a public city setting, we add a pure, honest dimension that reflects and intensifies every woman’s strength. Today, this message remains essential—to celebrate equality and honor women’s roles.”
The project has attracted notable attention. The provincial newspaper De Limburger published two articles, one of which made the front page, while the regional channel L1 featured it on primetime news.
The Sensual in the City: Maastricht project offers three exclusive fine art photography collections:
- Pigmented Ink Fine Art Prints
- Hand-Colored Fine Art Prints
- Handmade Palladiotype Prints
Each collection is available in small, limited editions, with several pieces already sold. To inquire about availability and pricing, please contact the artist directly. These timeless high quality prints are created to endure and the palladiotype even for centuries, preserving the project’s powerful essence for generations.
