For the seventh iteration of SAINT LAURENT’s art project SELF, the Parisian fashion house have partnered with six photographers from across the globe to display exhibitions in six separate cities. The works on show honour the importance of self-expression and the unique personality of the SAINT LAURENT brand. Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello personally selected photographers for the project from the pioneering photographic cooperative Magnum Photos.

In New York, the photographs of Alex Webb depict Los Angeles’ Piñata, Flower, and Fashion Districts, integrating his own recognisable vibrant style into the identity of SAINT LAURENT. In Paris, Harry Gruyaert’s shot capture fascination with the liminal aura of airports. The photoset shot at the city’s Charles de Gaulle airport employs prominent use of primary colours to display the ‘strong impression of being between two worlds’ as Gruyaert himself puts it. Olivia Arthur’s show in London, titled So not so offers us an exploration of the physical world and human bodies, as a respite from the virtual worlds that have ‘grown to become a genuine reality’.

As well as the three aforementioned members of the Magnum Photos collective, Vaccarello has also looked to three guest members hailing from the Far East to complete the SELF 07 series. In Seoul, Daesung Lee’s works document the impact of COVID on his relationship with the natural world and offers a reflection on his rural upbringing. In contrast, Takashi Hamma’s collection in Tokyo uses the camera obscura technique to capture the hustle and bustle of the city’s urban centre, and the way in which the pressure of the city relates to the fashion seen on its streets. Completing the set, photographic duo Birdhead are digitally presenting work in Shanghai. They have aligned the images in a grid format, inspired by the photographic matrix and employing inverted negatives for the first time.

The audacious international exhibition is open in all six global locations from June 9^th 2022.

More information on the series can be found on the SAINT LAURENT website.

Shot in New York City, Donnie Dix is a tribute to the brashness of the 80s. Directed by Sascha Taylor Larsen and produced by Oliver Finley, it is a parody of the type of naive self-obsession which characterised this period in our cultural history. The main character, played by Eli Cusick, embodies the absurdity of an era filled with excess. He represents a particular type of machismo coupled with a total lack of personal accountability. In just over three minutes, Donnie Dix’s character arc unfolds as he moves from total self-assurance to an increasing self-awareness, then the self-doubt which ultimately paralyses him.

Donnie Dix is a representation of the collective consciousness of the late 80s based on the films, music, literature and cultural references we have been brought up with. This playful mood is reflected through Josh Herzog’s cinematography, Alex Hass’ lighting and Alexia Salingaros’ colouring. The feeling of the late 80s is also portrayed through Alexandra Ruggieri’s production design, which was influenced by old 1980’s Ikea catalogues and postmodernist design. The styling choices of Gaby Sprenkle, who was inspired by iconic productions such as Miami Vice and The Lost Boys, also served to create the 80s vibe. 

The singularity of this music video is that the whole concept stems from the lyrics, written by Taylor Larsen himself. These lyrics reflect a young man who exudes self-assurance, but underneath it all is riddled by self-doubt. Based on this vision, Taylor Larsen asked award-winning composer Eivind Hannisdal to create a sound reminiscent of Jan Hammer’s Miami Vice soundtrack but filled with irony. Hannisdal recreates an authentic 80s sound with live musicians and Taylor Larsen’s humorous lyrics are further exaggerated by this use of the 80s sound.  

Donnie Dix is currently touring across the international awards circuit, with the first screening taking place at the Academy Award® qualifying Norwegian Short Film Festival in Grimstad between June 8 – 12, 2022. 

Coinciding with Photo London, Internationally renowned photographer and choreography AdeY will be in London for his first ever solo exhibition in the United Kingdom.

With a background in performance, choreography and contemporary dance, AdeY’s photographic works is a fine combination of these art forms. He studies subjects such as the human body’s balance, strength and physics. Through the lens of AdeY, these naked bodied were bent, stretched, contorted and curled up into different forms, showing the complexity of movements in authenticity.

Titled as Uncensored, the exhibition and its namesake book are in response to the constant censorship he experiences on Instagram. With the increasingly stricter censorship rules on sensitive contents, the exhibition is undoubtedly a powerful yet beautiful protest against the application’s reckless decision and unreasonable deletion. Previously at Los Angeles in December 2021, the exhibition will arrive in London at The Little Black Gallery Pop-Up (4 Garden Walk, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3EQ) from 13-15 May 2022.

photography | ROMAN VALYNKIN

Photographer | Il Retallack      Stylist | Emanuel Catrina