2005 - Findet Nimoy

"It gives me content to see people following me to the arts. It is seen sceptically if people dare to approach another area"

At the ExCeL / London Docklands even the organizers were surprised to see the long queues before Leonard Nimoy's desk where he signed thousands of autographs. This clearly shows who the most popular guest of the show was.
Leonard Nimoy is interested in a Mini-Disc recorder the reporter has got and remembers having seen these in Germany just some days ago.
"If we had known at the beginning of Star Trek what we know now!" he says.
After this Leonard plans to open an exhibition at the Bobi Benrubi Gallery in New York. "Maximum Beauty" shows big women with high self-esteem who refuse to bow to a society demanding perfect bodies.
"In our culture the concept of beauty is created by people who are influenced by fashion. …. There are millions of people who are told how they should look like. .. I am not sure where this will lead me to, but the first reactions were intensive and exciting. This has surprised me and made me glad."

Q: "How comes the original TV series Star Trek did not have enough courage to cast an overweight female character? Isn't this an offence for a part of the fandom?"
"In spite of all concepts and ideas I think there is not much women can identify with. I am quite sure; they do not feel represented in the series."

Though he has published photographs in two of his books of poetry, he's become established as a photographer after the publication of his photography book "Shekhina", the portrayal of the female aspect of God. In the end of 2003 this work has been developed into a dance performed by the Elisa Monte Dancing School in New York. "I have encouraged them to do that and they have produced a good piece of work. By now they have performed it quite often, but I was at the opening performance in New York."

It is to be assumed that Nimoy will provoke controversy by Shekhina and Maximum Beauty though he emphasizes he is not intending to do that. "It is no intention, I do not do this to be offensive", he explains. "In the creative progress you do not know for sure what you will create. You go into the dark room and begin to press buttons, and you do not know which picture will light the room."
"I am grateful to my wife Susan for a lot of inspiration. I have married again 16 years ago and a lot of things I am doing now I owe her. She encouraged me to explore, to come out of myself, to be daring.
"A wonderful lady, Margaret Tucker, the founder of the museum of Contemporary Art in New York told me: "Do what makes you afraid, do what makes you panic." I apply that philosophy on anything I do, on acting, directing, writing or photography."

"I use photography to express myself. And I invite people to discuss the pictures with them."

Q. "A book about Maximum Beauty?"

"No, not yet. There are six or eight pictures and a book like Shekhina needs about 50 pictures."
"I believe it leads fans to the arts. Some are only interested in it because I am. 'We like what he has done before, let's see what he what he is up to now' and follow me to discover what they would not have gotten in touch with otherwise."

Concerning the celebrations '40 years Tar Trek' : "I already had 40 years Star Trek because I was part of the pilot in 1965, so I came early to the party and I am leaving already because I want to know what they do for 50 years Star Trek!"