"The Sleep of the Beloved IV"

pigmentbased inkjet print

signed, titled, dated, and numbered on verso

By candlelight, Schneggenburger exposes the sleeping people from midnight to 6 o'clock in the morning, whereby those parts of the body which are moved more are hardly visible in their details and thus seem to melt together in their grey tones.
(Fritz Simak)

What happens during sleep between people who love each other? Do they sleep next to each other, each on their own, or do they share certain sensations, places or emotions? Is it a nocturnal dance of lovers, an unconsciously performed kind of affection, or do they turn their backs on each other? Is there a union with the other, a union with the self?
I photograph people and perhaps the traces they leave behind. The intimate moments of sleep in a black bed. So I invade the privacy of the lovers. I ask friends, acquaintances and strangers to come to my studio with one or two loved ones. To sleep in a black bed, in a room lit by candles and to be photographed by me throughout the night. There is no deep familiarity and intimacy. The lovers trust me, let it all happen to them, surrender to their defencelessness. Some are nervous or restless and don't sleep very well. Others report excellent sleep.
(Paul Maria Schneggenburger)