Alexander Kopelev was born in Moscow in an industrial suburb of five storey "Khrushev" buildings. Gloomy surroundings formed a thirst for beauty, and the hypocritical times of stagnation - aspiration for the forbidden –photography of naked models- NU. Clashes of the epoch, that Kopelev was part of, were reflected in his full of eroticism works. Hence the nude and mysterious images of the female models, that radiate genuine pleasure from the photography process. Professional models, as well as ordinary girls who like to be photographed in the nude pose for him.
Of course one may say that Kopelev in his works quotes Helmut Newton. But there is no "déjà vu" feeling. In contrast to the glamorous inaccessible beauties of Newton, Kopelevs’ ladies don’t look beyond the reach. In life they are not beautiful women, but on photos they are maidens from dreamland, who make men in the street turn their heads and freeze in astonishment. On Kopelevs’ photographs they miraculously turn into heavenly beauties…
