meet smoking-hot photographer rasha kahil
Men, women, gay, straight - everyone is drawn to London-based Lebanese woman-about-town Rasha Kahil. Maybe it's the startling grey-green eyes, the smoke-tinged laugh or an admirable willingness to bare both her soul and body in the name of art. As well as shooting candid self-portraits in various states of undress (including the witty 'In Your Home' series for which she secretly posed nude in various friends homes and then invited them to a not-so-private view) the photographic artist shares searingly honest revelations about her – and other people's - sexual exploits in a limited-edition magazine entitled XI and La Gueule du Monde. The erotic short stories are interspersed with raw portraits of guys and girls rocking ruffled hair, dilated pupils and post-coital cigarettes piercing their lips.
When asked if the bitingly sexy prose is purely autobiographical Rasha refuses to be drawn. "I think part of the appeal of the magazine is the fact that it's all obscure. You're not sure if the stories are real or not and any of the people in the pictures might or might not be someone who's mentioned," she says, "The sex becomes just another portrait. It could be anyone's encounter". Intrigued? Here's an exert:
He rolls me around and spanks me. The work 'spank' belies the intensity of his slaps. They're painful, hard and fast, relentless on my bum cheeks. They burn and turn bright red – I can feel it even though I can't contort enough to see. I relish the stings. I'm like a child in his lap. If I put my hand out he still slams down. He makes me feel small because I am falling for him, a man who does not want a girl. He has told me so several times. I am still in denial.
Get it while its hot! You can buy XI and La Gueule du Monde and find our more about the inimitable Ms Kahil at rashakahil.com Here's a little insight into her psyche in the meantime:
Star sign?
Leo.
The most rebellious thing you've ever done?
Interrupted my ex-boyfriend and his one-night stand with my fuming, jealous presence. If I wasn't getting any, he sure as hell wouldn't be either... We both look back at this episode in laughter.
Who's your style icon?
A few people I've stalked on Facebook have amazing style, but I won't name them for obvious reasons. And Chloe Sevigny.
The soundtrack to your life?
"Ladies and Gentlemen we are floating in Space" by Spiritualized or alternatively, "This Mess We're In" by PJ Harvey and Thom Yorke.
Your guilty pleasure?
Marzipan, cigarettes and shopping for discounted designer brands.
