The Issue With Art.

W Magazine's annual art issue is like my version of the Sport's Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. I love a smart pairing of high fashion and high art; and W really focuses in on that blurred border between the two. This year the issue puts dark humor artist extraordinaire Maurizio Cattelan to work with middle aged model extraordinaire Linda Evangelista.

Cattelan's pieces: La Nona Ora, 1999.; Stephanie, 2003.; and Bidibidobidiboo, 1996.

Cattelan's work regularly takes the piss out of some pretty stodgy topics. He's killed a life-size, hyper-real effigy of the Pope in a meteor crash, staged a squirrel's suicide, and duct taped his gallerist to the wall. He's also created a bust of supermodel Stephanie Seymour in the fashion of a mounted trophy kill, and hoisted polymer women and taxidermied horses way above their natural latitudes.

"A Perfect Day" 1999


"Frank & Jamie" 2002


"Mini-me" 1999


"Untitled" 2007

In the editorial he did with Linda, he stayed a bit darker than usual. Although, the leggy model surrounded by a coop's worth of chickens while in her lacy underthings is humorous in its own way. Mostly though the shots are on the darker, more unsettling side.

I actually picked this magazine up and leafed through it at a newsstand. I forgot the simple tactile pleasure of feeling the texture of the paper in my hands while looking through a great magazine. I highly recommend it.

One/One-Thousand: David Sims

David and one of his subjects.

David Sims is British. That makes him preeety cool. He's also a fashion photographer with all the right stuff. His sharp, geometric, linear style is the go-to, bold choice for fashion publications and brands that want editorials or ad campaigns with an edge. He's one of the more distinctive photographers in the fashion realm and his style is super recognizable. Sometimes he gets all full of himself, playing with volume by shooting billowing fabrics on skinny models, but mostly he keeps the angles angular and the posers in quick motion. His shots are often black and white, but his color is captivating and rich. Here's some of his work:

In a fairly recent project for W Magazine Sims photographed French opera singer Alexandra Deshorties mid-aria and wound up with simply gorgeous results that are both moving and in motion. Here is a video of the photoshoot taking place and a selection of the finished product.

It's hard to describe just how beautiful I find these images. I think this project is the perfect pairing of Sims and a subject. There's so much emotion there. And, the fact that Deshorties is not a model makes it somehow more authentic, more genuine. Sometimes W Magazine gets it so right. Sometimes...not so much. But just scroll back up to refocus on the positive.

Um...

Let's say first that I am a huge fan of Steven Klein. His portfolio includes some of my favorite fashion photography of all time. His projects for W Magazine with Madonna, Bangelina, and a solo Mr. Pitt are all sexy edged with spooky in an interesting way:









But this? This goes too far. Or not far enough. I can't tell which...



That's Bruce Willis blindfolded and sporting a pair of nude skivvies for a walk down the stairs with his wife. And this? This is him getting a lil active with an alienized/sci-fi version of his wifey:


Oy. This is wrong in so many ways.

It's too awkward.
Mr. Klein, your excellent portfolio gives you one get out of photo purgatory free card, but DO NOT do this again.
I have to go.

One/One-Thousand: Steven Klein

Steven Klein creates photo shoots that are universes unto themselves. The stars of the photos look kind of familiar, but they are in some glossy, rich, dreamscape of a story. There are different rules of appearance, gravity, style, and substance. Someone as recognizable as Madonna becomes unknowable in a way. Someone as used to the lens as Naomi Campbell becomes a fresh character with depth. Klein's drama is a dark star. His work is fashion photography at it's brilliant best.











Klein has a new shoot on stands for the March issue of W starring Madonna in Rio.













Bleachyblondmuscleypoolboyawkward= Weird Beauty.

More photos here.

Fashion At Her Fingertips

Yuna Park is the only Nail Technician on the prestigious creative management agency Streeters New York roster. A few years ago manicurists began gaining credit for their work in magazines and at fashion shows, listed in editorial features right alongside the photographers, models, makeup artists, and hairstylists. Even among the limited number of name-brand nail painters in the fashion industry, Yuna's portfolio is a clear standout. She works with the top photogrpahers for all the top publications and while perusing her pics, I realized that any of the shots I've admired in the last few years simply for their manicures have been done by Park.

Christina Ricci's yellow paint job for Another Magazine? The black tips on Guinevere van Seenus in that Mert & Marcus shoot for W? Julianne Moore's inches-long red talons? It's all Park's work and it all adds something vital to the final product.

Head on over the the Streeters website to view the images above and Park's full portfolio.