Bal(enciag)at by Hakan Solak and Osman Özel

all clothing by Balenciaga Spring 2023

photography by Osman Özel
styling by Hakan Solak
set design by Stefanie Grau
hair by Masayuki Yuasa
make-up by Gianluca Venerdini
using Haebmau Atelier, Pat McGrath and Byredo
production by Laura Howes
light assistance by Riccardo Contrino
styling assistance by Aleix Llussà Lòpez
hair assistance by Lee Hyangsoon
set assistance by Catherine Lemeshynska
casting by Eli Xavier Casting
modeling by Sarah G. @ TIAD, Lici, Albena @ Indeed and Tarek
special thanks to Hayley Foo and the Balenciaga Team

Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Models pose in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Photo of evil eye pendent
Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Models pose in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Models pose in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Model poses in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration
Photo of metal structure with chandeliers
Models pose in Balenciaga Adidas collaboration

RAMMELLZEE: THE EQUATION

Jean-Michel_Basquiat_rammellzee

Rammellzee (pronounced "Ram: Ell: Zee") was a painter, performance artist, confidant of the late 70s early 80s downtown New York art scene and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and is oft credited as the progenitor of the modern graffiti movement. On March 3, The Suzanne Geiss Company will present its inaugural exhibition Rammellzee: The Equation, The Letter Racers. Rammellzee’s manifestoes “Iconoclast Panzerism” and “Gothic Futurism” explored graffiti’s ability to liberate the transcendental powers of the alphabet that had been corrupted by Western culture. A manifestation of the artist’s theories, his Letter Racers were created over more than 15 years in his loft, The Battle Station. They are being shown in New York for the first time. Rammellzee: The Equation is on view from March 8 to April 21, 2012 at The Suzanne Geiss Company, 76 Grand Street, New York. 

[FIRST LOOK] POST x BLK DNM Perfume 11

A video by POST, an Ipad only arts and culture publication, for BLK DNM Perfume 11 which premiered at The Webster Miami for Art Basel; with sound design by Twin Shadow. "BLK DNM Perfume 11 molecules mixed with water - and in one scene, paint....The inspiration was a re-imagining of a birth of a nebula in an alternate universe, and then how planets, rocks, land, water and clouds - an atmosphere - may form in an alternative gravitational field.....It was important for us to use the actual perfume within the liquid mix so as to imbue the video with a special energy and integrity as an artwork."

Louis Vuitton Voyages

Vuitton Family, 1888

When Louis Vuitton founded his maroquinerie label in 1854 on Rue Neuve des Capucines in Paris he knew how to make a good travelling case.  This is proven in durability and by the fact that most of the cases, even the earliest examples, still stand the test of time. And, just as well, the ethos of handmade luxury, that has slowly faded into a seemingly prehistoric notion, has lasted too–leaving the Vuitton unprecedented in the integrity of its craft–even through corporate mastication, mergers, and a platform in the publicly traded market. The Louis Vuitton label has had its own history in China too–in an age when the orient was a universe away from its Parisian base. In 1931 the Croisiere Jaune expedition led 40 men to drive 12,000 km from the Mediterranean coast to the China coast, following the footsteps of Marco Polo, was outfitted with Louis Vuitton trunks. And even further back to the 1907 Paris to Peking expedition when members struggled against temperatures as low as -30 degrees in cars outfitted with Louis Vuitton trunks. On view now until August 31 at the National Museum of China in Beijing, "Louis Vuitton Voyages" explores its own history and tradition since its inception as well as celebrates the label's place in Chinese culture.

[PARFUM D'UNE FEMME] Petite Mort / The Scent of an Orgasm

La petite mort, French for "the little death", is a decidedly poetic metaphor for an orgasm. The question of capturing "the elusive substance" in a bottle, much less a scent, seem's daunting.  With his first foray into perfume, such was the task for Marc Atlan, an art director for clients such as Comme des Garçons, Yves Saint Laurent, and Tom Ford. So how do you capture that moment of climax? You don't really.  You create a conceptual representation, which in and of itself, if you have ever had an orgasm is a pretty intense.  With the rise of artfume, a term I just coined,  more and more perfumers are exploring and inventing wholly new, post modern twists on the classic eau de toilette. Think M/Mink, a line of perfume with the scent of Korean calligraphy ink. According to Petite Mort: "...its a scent based on the paradox of impossible ephemerality." Only 100 bottles of Petite Mort (Parfum D'Une Femme) is available in bottles designed specifically designed and numbered.  www.petitemortparfum.com

Hunted

Tucked away in a literal sliver of a store front on Divisadero Street, in San Francisco, is a mysteriously intriguing new accessories shop called Hunted. Apparently they'd been open for only a few days when I paid a visit. I walked inside where a single shelf on the right side of the boutique was draped with hypnotizing antique jewelry, pocket books, hand bags, and other collected ephemera. Hunted is a brilliantly simple one stop outpost of elegant jewelry absolutely well worth a visit. 843 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117  www.huntedsf.com