Sabine Tautou, a New York-based artist and dominatrix, boldly employs public performance and fetishism to explore the dynamic themes of sexuality and control. While her work may initially surprise some viewers, Tautou’s visual art reveals profound depths beyond first impressions. Fishnet Magazine had the privilege of speaking with her about confidence, date nights, and the liberating power of creativity.
Charlotte: What do you find most liberating about your artistic process?
Sabine: I think the most liberating part is that I get to build worlds around ideas that would normally only exist in my head. BDSM and sex work are incredibly rich creative languages for examining power, gender, and hierarchy in ways that invite people to see them differently.
Charlotte: What advice would you offer to a young woman who is struggling with her confidence or embracing her sexuality?
Sabine: I’m not a good authority on confidence. I struggle with it every day.
As for sexuality, be as curious about yourself as you can be. Don’t assume what turns you on is what you’re supposed to like just because it’s what you’ve always seen.
When I was younger, I thought I was submissive because that’s how I saw women depicted everywhere. At the same time, I was doing all these sadistic things to my boyfriends and getting really excited by it, but I never stopped to ask myself why. Back then, it didn’t even occur to me that I might be dominant. I was pretty clueless about what was actually driving my sexuality until I became seriously curious about myself and began to explore it.
Charlotte: Ideal date night?
Sabine: Elaborate, completely unnecessary, and unserious public role-play that we stay committed to for an entire evening out.
Charlotte: Three words to describe your work?
Sabine: Hierarchical. Ritualistic. Absurd.
@sabinetautou @fishnetmagazine @charlotteroyrose
