PHOTOGRAPHY: Benjamin Fredrickson's "Wedgies": A Provocative Exploration of Queer Fetish (NSFW)
Benjamin Fredrickson's debut book, "Wedgies," offers an in-depth exploration of the wedgie subculture through his provocative photography. Over four years, Fredrickson captured male subjects in extreme wedgies, where underwear is pulled above their heads. As an active participant in this scene, Fredrickson brings a unique insider perspective, infusing his work with an erotic charge that resonates with his own pleasure. His subjects, recruited via social media, collaborate actively, asserting their desires and agency even while being dominated and objectified.
Drawing on Michel Foucault’s notion that kink can create new possibilities of pleasure, Fredrickson's photographs highlight the artistic potential of kinky collaboration. The images are created through the dynamic between the sitters and the photographer, who often appears in the shots, adding a POV perspective that invites viewers to become part of the scene. The subjects are anonymous, emphasising the visual impact of the stretched underwear and the form of their bodies.
Fredrickson explains that the wedgie is the central focus, with the body serving as a prop to highlight this fetish. The images underscore a distinctly queer perspective, with the masculine aesthetics and homoerotic undertones being central to the project. The tension between exposure and denial plays a crucial role, with the wedgie leaving something to the imagination and enhancing the erotic tension.
Wedgie fetishes, as depicted in Fredrickson's work, involve complex BDSM dynamics, blending psychological and physical domination. The discomfort and pain of the wedgie provide pleasure for both the giver and receiver, touching on themes of bullying, degradation, and subconscious desires from early development. The arrested motion in the photographs, with subjects restrained by their underwear, adds a captivating element to the visual narrative.
Fredrickson, born in Minneapolis and based in New York City, has exhibited his work in various prestigious venues and has been featured in several notable publications. "Wedgies" marks his first book, offering a profound look into queer fetish subculture through his compelling photographic lens.
