Neu Sex

Sasha Grey, rising adult film and pop-culture star, takes control in her new monograph neu sex, moving out from in front of the camera to behind it, turning the lens on the wild world she inhabits.

“When I first got into the adult industry, I decided to take my photography much more seriously. I started taking a camera with me to capture my experiences on set, so it was a moment in time, a memory for myself—not the video that would be seen by thousands of people. On days where I was physically unable to capture an image, Ian, my fiance, became my third arm. He understands my aesthetic, or lack thereof. Ian is a photographer, yet the work in this book is quite different from his usual style. When you are so close with someone, there is a shorthand and true understanding of what the other person is trying to accomplish. If there’s something I am physically unable to photograph, I can say one word and Ian can assist me with my vision. Ian can capture intimate moments with me that nobody can fabricate, because of our relationship. The strong sense of familiarity eliminates all boundaries between the subject and the photographer.

“Documenting myself has almost become a necessity.?

“There are so many photos of me, taken by other people, that aesthetically I have no control over. Documenting myself allows me to reflect on the day, on the feelings I am having at that second. When you work in the entertainment industry, there are always surprises; there certainly isn’t one day that is similar to the last. Personally, it’s important to embrace this and appreciate it every day.

“Still images vividly capture emotion, a second in time that can be left open for interpretation by the viewer and the creator. I am inspired by the work of Cindy Sherman and Nan Goldin. Sherman’s work continues to inspire me to develop certain characters. I figured if I am on set I might as well take advantage of my surroundings, and document my life in an exciting, untraditional manner. I look back at photos, and see how much I’ve grown, how my opinions have changed, and how they will continue to change.”?

—Sasha Grey

\Sasha Grey, born March 14, 1988, in Sacramento,?California is an American actor, writer, photographer, adult film star, transgressive artist, and experimental musician. She moved to Los Angeles one month after she turned 18 to pursue a career as an adult film star. She entered the adult business to explore her sexual fantasies in a safe environment, to make more creative adult films (which she felt were severely lacking), and to encourage men and women to not be ashamed of their sexual desires. Since entering the adult industry in 2006, she has far surpassed the usual boundaries of adult film stardom, appearing in Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience, and speaking at the prestigious BFI in London, Brandeis University, Yale University, and UCLA.

Grey was chosen as “Penthouse Pet of The Month” for July 2007, which was photographed by the fashion photographer Terry Richardson. Grey made the 2008 Rolling Stone magazine “Hot List,” and the May 2009 edition featured a profile piece on her. In January 2010, Grey appeared nude in an ad campaign for PETA advocating animal birth control. She recently hosted two one-off shows for G4, and has been featured in many magazines, including Vice, Blackbook, Flaunt, VMan, Love, The Inrockuptibles, Elle, GQ Germany, Blurt, Filmmaker, Playboy, and Rolling Stone.