Meaning: Robert Mapplethorpe, a renowned American photographer, expressed a profound sentiment about the transformative nature of certain experiences in his quote, "When I have sex with someone I forget who I am. For a minute I even forget I'm human. It's the same thing when I'm behind a camera. I forget I exist." This quote encapsulates Mapplethorpe's deep connection to both the act of photographing and the act of intimacy, revealing a powerful sense of transcendence and transformation in these moments.

Mapplethorpe's comparison of sex and photography as experiences that allow him to forget his own identity and existence is a striking expression of the immersive and consuming nature of these activities for him. It suggests that both acts have the capacity to transport him beyond the confines of his own self, enabling a temporary release from the constraints of his individual identity and humanity. This sentiment speaks to the intense emotional and psychological impact that both sex and photography have on Mapplethorpe, highlighting the profound nature of these experiences in his life.

In the context of sex, Mapplethorpe's words convey a sense of liberation and abandonment of self. The act of intimacy with another person becomes a transcendent experience for him, allowing him to shed the layers of his own identity and immerse himself fully in the moment. This perspective suggests a deep emotional and spiritual connection to the act of sex, where Mapplethorpe finds a sense of freedom and release from the boundaries of his own self-awareness.

Similarly, Mapplethorpe draws a parallel between sex and his experience behind the camera. As a photographer, he enters a state of transcendence where he loses awareness of his own existence. This comparison underscores the profound impact of photography on Mapplethorpe, suggesting that the act of capturing images allows him to transcend his own consciousness and identity. It speaks to the immersive and all-encompassing nature of his creative process, where he becomes fully absorbed in the act of photography, losing himself in the art form.

Mapplethorpe's words also hint at the idea of the self as a transient and malleable entity, capable of being momentarily eclipsed or forgotten in the face of powerful experiences. His sentiment reflects a deep introspective exploration of identity and existence, revealing the complex interplay between the individual self and the transformative power of certain experiences. It invites contemplation on the nature of identity and the ways in which it can be momentarily dissolved or transcended in moments of intense intimacy or creative expression.

Overall, Robert Mapplethorpe's quote encapsulates a profound sense of transcendence and transformation in the experiences of sex and photography. It reveals the deeply immersive and consuming nature of these activities for him, highlighting the capacity of both to allow him to forget his own identity and existence, if only for a moment. Mapplethorpe's words offer a glimpse into the profound emotional and psychological impact of these experiences on his life, inviting contemplation on the nature of identity, transcendence, and the transformative power of art and intimacy.