With “HÔTEL NOIR II”, Berlin-based photographer J. Konrad Schmidt presents a unique photographic body of work that merges the aesthetics of analog black-and-white film with the atmosphere of international grand hotels and the intimacy of female encounters. The exhibition at CHAUSSEE 36 in Berlin invites viewers to immerse themselves in a dark, sensual world.

As a homage to female eroticism, the project offers women a protected space of intimacy and freedom in which they can explore and realise their own erotic fantasies. Since 2010, Schmidt has photographed anonymous women as well as professional models around the world, in cities such as London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, Berlin, and New York.

Selected image sequences and motifs are revealed, making Schmidt’s distinctive visual style tangible. The iconic imagery unfolds a strong narrative density while simultaneously leaving ample room for individual associations. Striking contrasts of light and shadow recall the tradition of cinematic film noir. For this project, Schmidt collaborated with personalities such as Kristina Vogel and Viktoria Modesta, whose work highlights contemporary concepts of inclusion and the private lives of people with disabilities. In doing so, he follows both his own life story and those of the people he works with.

The first book, “HÔTEL NOIR,” won Gold at the German Photo Book Award 2020. Now “HÔTEL NOIR II” has been released, and at CHAUSSEE 36 Schmidt presents the first exhibition accompanying the book, featuring a selection of prints, including several previously unpublished images.

More than a book project, “HÔTEL NOIR” is an artistic statement against the purely online consumption of images and a call for the return to the physical experience of photography. Accordingly, the works are deliberately not accessible online—they are meant to be experienced in printed form, as a tactile and visual experience that lingers in memory.

The exhibition at CHAUSSEE 36 is a rare opportunity to experience the original silver gelatin prints.

J. Konrad Schmidt (*1984, Berlin) studied photography at the LAZI Academy in Stuttgart/Esslingen. His work has received numerous international awards. He is a professional member of the DGPh – German Society for Photography, the BFF – Professional Association of Freelance Photographers and Film Creators, the ADC – Art Directors Club Germany, and the AOP – Association of Photographers London.

Friday, Feb 27, 2026, 8 – 10 pm
Opening reception