Hairless dogs are always getting a reaction, whether it is a curious, good or bad one, there is always a reaction when people see an American Hairless Terrier, Chinese Crested, Hairless Khala, Peruvian Inca Orchid (PIO) or Xoloitzcuintle. Well, one woman decided to have an artistic approach with these hairless dogs.
Her name, Sophie Gamand, is on everybody’s lips in the dog show industry. She has released and announced “Prophecy”, a series of hairless dogs that she made by calling hairless dog owners and breeders. She wants to explore the unique beauty of hairless dogs who often, are mocked and called names.
Those who find them ugly should have an attentive look at her work — these dogs are beautiful, funny, sexy… Far from being ugly, hairless dogs are fascinating, especially once you look beyond their unusual appearance.
“Usually my projects come from a place of being fearful of the subject or knowing nothing about it. I did a project of pit bulls wearing flowers because I was scared of pit bulls and I knew I had to confront those fears,” she said. “I had never touched a hairless dog before and I couldn’t understand the relationship people have with the way these dogs look.”
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The series focuses on two major hairless breeds: the Chinese Crested, the Xoloitzcuintli (or Mexican hairless dog) and mixed hairless dogs. Sophie Gamand wanted to see what happened when Human Beings tried to play the Gods of Nature and use species, here the dog, to fulfill their needs whether they are for performing specific tasks or simply for companionship and look. The result is incredible and each picture she captured reminds us of how eye-catching these breeds are.
The Chinese Crested is has been intentionally bred over generations to look the way it does, however, the Xolo seems to have become hairless through its very own natural evolution. If you want to know more about the Xoloitzcuintli, you can find more details and information on the Xoloitzcuintli Club of America.
“Putting a camera in a dog’s face is not an easy task; putting it in front of a Xolo‘s face is nearly impossible. They were the hardest shoots I’ve done in my life,” she said.
For this project, Sophie Gamand approached rescue organizations specializing in hairless dogs as well as private breeders, and then tried and visibly managed to photograph a close-up of her subjects’ face. She wanted to capture as many details as possible and it was not easy considering the agitation that comes with these dogs. She also wanted to face and win the fight against the unease she feels when confronted with animals.
You can visit her website to enjoy the whole series or if you really want to learn wonderful facts and the science behind these breeds, we highly recommend Hairless Dogs – The Naked Truth: The Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli & Peruvian Inca Orchid by Kelly Rhae.
