LifeBall in Vienna: Carmen Carrera naked by David LaChapelle

May 14 2014

by misterb&b

Is Austria the new Promised Land for sexual controversy? After the stunning victory of national candidate Conchita Wurst at Eurovision Song Contest 2014, the country will soon host the Life Ball in Vienna, the biggest charity event in Europe supporting people with HIV or AIDS. The poster for this 22nd edition, by David LaChapelle, inspired the Gardens of Eden, will most probably surprise a few people!

The Life Ball, organized by AIDS Life every year since 1993, attracts almost 4,000 people, among them major celebrities like Sharon Stone, Thierry Mugler and Katy Perry. A few days before the event, the poster was posted around Vienna's streets. It was designed by famous American photographer David LaChapelle and shows transgender supermodel Carmen Carrera, naked in the garden of eden, once as Eve, but also as Adam.

The slogan on the artwork reads, "Ich bin Adam, Ich bin Eva, ich bin ich" (I'm Adam, I'm Eve, I'm Me). Carmer Carrera  appears completely naked in two different versions; one with a penis, one with a vagina. A small difference which could seem familiar, if you remember the fuss about the Pierre & Gilles posters in Vienna's streets back in 2012.

The Life Ball will take place in Vienna City Hall like every year. Artist David LaChapelle said: “I’m very excited about coming to Life Ball for the first time. Lots of my friends are going for years and this is going to be great for me. I’m also excited to be showing my new series in Vienna – Gas Stations and Refineries, which I created last year. I hope that I can connect with people and touch them in some way through my images“.

The Life Ball poster indeed also announces David LaChapelle’s exhibition at Galerie Ostlicht “Once in the Garden”, which will run from June 2 until September 14.