Larry Sultan’s Photographic Journey Through Adult Film Sets
The intersection of everyday life and the adult film industry is captured in the evocative photography of Larry Sultan. In a series that explores the mundane settings of adult film shoots, Sultan delves into the homes that have become temporary stages for a unique form of entertainment. His work offers a glimpse into how the ordinary can be transformed into the extraordinary.
Exploring the Ordinary in an Extraordinary Industry
In the late 1990s, while working on a feature for Maxim Magazine, Sultan found himself revisiting his childhood neighborhood in California’s San Fernando Valley. This area had evolved into a hub for adult film production due to its affordability and proximity to Los Angeles. Over several years, Sultan photographed homes rented by adult film companies, capturing a juxtaposition of domesticity and sensuality.
One of the most striking images in his collection features adult film actor Sharon Wild. Posed in a makeshift bedroom adorned with vibrant purple curtains, Wild sits on a worn mattress, a pink fabric draped beside her. The scene, accented by a fake dracaena tree and minimal props, highlights the stark contrast between the familiar comforts of home and the performances taking place within those walls.
According to Yancey Richardson, Sultan’s gallerist, he was fascinated by the “parallel reality” created in these homes. “The Valley” was published as a book in 2004, and its images have since become a significant part of Sultan’s legacy, showcased in numerous exhibitions following his death in 2009.
A Study of Domesticity and Performance
Sultan’s exploration of the Valley’s homes reveals a striking dissonance. He described these interiors as “estranged” from their original purpose, reconfigured for the performance of pleasure. Sultan’s wife, Kelly Sultan, recalls how her husband was drawn to the details of these spaces: the magnets on refrigerators, the remnants of daily life that persisted even as they served as backdrops for adult performances.
Throughout his work, the act of sex often recedes into the background, subtly implied rather than explicitly shown. Sultan’s assistant, Rebecca Bausher, noted that while sexual scenes might be unfolding in one part of a home, Sultan was more interested in elements like a menorah or the arrangement of furniture. “He was looking for clues to excavate this interior psyche that we all have,” Bausher explained.
Sultan’s photographs challenge conventional narratives by emphasizing the bizarre incongruities of adult film productions. In his studio images, curtains may be pulled back to reveal set walls, while furniture is haphazardly assembled, exposing the artifice behind the scenes. The result is a visual commentary on the tension between reality and performance.
The portrait of Wild stands out as a moment of genuine connection between the actor and the camera. Sultan described his approach as documenting “fictions,” an effort to capture the theatricality of the scenes without adhering to traditional film stills. “I’m making those moments that are off, where the drama isn’t being targeted right at that dramatic moment,” he remarked during an interview with the Oakland Museum of Contemporary Art in 2003.
In Sultan’s view, elements like purple curtains and a red suitcase were not mere props but essential components of his artistic vision. “When I see some purple curtains, I run for my camera,” he expressed, reflecting on the thrill of uncovering beauty in the everyday.
Through his lens, Larry Sultan invites viewers to reconsider the familiar spaces of suburban life and the narratives woven into them, revealing layers of complexity in the realm of adult entertainment. His work continues to resonate, compelling audiences to explore the often-overlooked intersections of art, sexuality, and domesticity.
