“Being human, our capacity to imagine allows us to re-envision the future in new and provocative ways.” says Kate Wong, Chinese-Canadian curator, writer and poet working as assistant curator at the Serpentine Galleries. Wong’s practice is currently centred on understanding the dehumanising dimensions of humanism, and her comment speaks to wider themes of our latest issue, where we’re platforming the creatives who work with unfamiliar and irregular to creatively challenge the status quo.
In issue 26, we spotlight on LVMH shortlisted, zero-waste designer Róisín Pierce who creates effervescent clothes from tulle, organza and satin, and uses texture to reflect on the troubled history of women in Ireland. A series on radical gaming champions the women bringing an unconventional approach to the immersion and interaction in video games. And one of the UK’s most talented songwriters, Porridge Radio’s Dana Margolin, explores the sound of feeling. Plus the original vibe shifter Michéle Lamy curates and stars in a dynamic series of portraits that harness the energy of life, joy and power – shot by Danielle Levitt.
In fashion, photographer Andy Jackson brings a heap of nostalgia to his series of year-book style portraits. Ina Lekiewicz captures big energy retro florals, while Misha Taylor takes us forward with the next generation of formalwear. Looking at the shape of things to come, Georgina Devy shoots a series of spectacular, architecturally-inspired monochrome looks, while in ‘The Great Outdoors’ photographer Lorenz Schmidl and stylist Beatriz Maues take us back to natural pleasures, revelling in the strangeness of our glorious world.
This spring, Issue 16 offered a study in shedding the weighty debris of expectation, and forging your own identity, under whatever guise that may take. From the renunciation of labels with model Lulu Bonfils, to redefining femininity with the creators behind MoreMuhler, and reclaiming pink with musician GIRLI, we celebrated womanhood without limits. Similarly, we discovered how family is at the core of the work done by 90-year-old artist Betye Saar, and those sentiments were echoed by fashion designer Molly Goddard, who we shadowed for a day. Elsewhere, Chanel’s hyper real version of beauty was played with, and Louis Vuitton’s artistic vision for SS17 was realised. Photographer Dexter Navy experimented with the perception of future super Jean Campbell, and posing greats Erin O’Connor and Guinevere Van Seenus made the lens their own again. Twin also delved into the world of all-girl skate culture and friendship, while director Crystal Moselle and BFF Danielle Levitt discussed the red-hot power of teenagers with passion. It was a riot.
In Twin X, Danielle Levitt visits Arizona to meet the SUN CITY POMS, an acrobatic Arizonian Dance Troupe of women in their 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Here, Levitt captures the women in this short film to give us a greater insight into their lives, showing us that they are a force to be reckoned with.
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