Carolina Lopez's 'Les nuits fauves': A Sensual and Transgressive Photo Series

Carolina Lopez's photo series 'Les nuits fauves' captures the wild, excessive nightlife scenes across Budapest, Prague, Milan, Paris, Los Angeles, Berlin, and Las Vegas. The Colombian-born, Florence-trained artist immerses herself in these environments, photographing from within as a participant rather than a detached observer. Her work eschews captions and geographical labels, focusing instead on the raw, colorful, and often grotesque details of burlesque, strip clubs, and fashion parties. Lopez's approach is influenced by Nan Goldin's insider perspective rather than Martin Parr's documentary style, and she cites Robert Mapplethorpe and Japanese erotic art as inspirations. The images feature mostly women, often faceless or unrecognizable, and explore themes of narcissism, consumerism, and the anesthesia of pain, as described by philosopher Byung-Chul Han. Lopez studied painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence and photography at Santa Reparata International School. The series is published as a book by Self Self Books.