rape of africa

I was browsing the 2010 Contact Photography Festival website this morning, trying to decide what would be worth attending and came across famed photographer David LaChapelle's exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art Courtyard. I've seen LaChapelle's 2009, "Rape of Africa" before, but somehow skimmed over it, or maybe I had been pounded so hard by senseless and ridiculous images, that it meant nothing to me at the time.

From the Contact website:
"Spectacular and outrageous, David LaChapelle’s images cross cultures and genres. His extravagant take on Sandro Botticelli’s Venus and Mars (c: 1484) is enlarged to massive proportions in MOCCA’s courtyard. The Rape of Africa (2009) simultaneously references the grand architectural paintings of the Renaissance and the supersized advertising billboards of the present day. LaChapelle casts a regal yet passive-looking Naomi Campbell in the role of Venus, goddess of love and beauty, who is powerless to prevent the ravaging of both her body and land. A satiated Mars, the god of war, sits opposite, surrounded by gold and the spoils of his conquest while young boys playfully wield guns as if they are fashion accessories. Loaded with detail and symbolic reference to art history, current events and popular culture, LaChapelle‘s contemporary allegory evocatively comments on the effects of war, mining and mass marketing on Africa. Adhered directly to the surface of the courtyard’s stuccoed wall, The Rape of Africa looks as much like a painting as a photograph, heightening the tension between the two mediums."

There's a lot going on in LaChapelle's piece, but it generally makes me feel iffy all around. I get that this is supposed to be an ironic representation of all things wrong with imperialism (i.e., the world). But, is this really a comment on "the effects of war, mining and mass marketing on Africa" or is it perpetuating a cycle of the appropriation of Africa's name and history, but with Naomi Campbell as the poster child? For what? Africa? It reminds me of the 2006 "I am African" campaign. Um, no you're not. Thanks Gwenyth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and Heidi Klum for your concern, but you have no fucking idea what it means to be African. Neither do I, but recognition of our shared vulnerability and suffering isn't through sweeping statements like these, or those silly "We are all Palestinian" t-shirts.

Despite my reservations, I'm hoping to pass by LaChapelle's public installation. It's located at Queen and Shaw in Toronto and starts May 1st.

a leopard can't change her spots

Photos: Olsens Anonymous.

and watching lovers part, i feel you smiling

Photo: Le Love.

anti-chic

Photos: Love is the new black.

Shot by my current favourite photographer Cass Bird in Daria Werbowy's New York City loft for Dossier Journal's Spring 2010 issue. I'm way down with the anti-chic movement. For my Trend Hunter article on this, click here.

'wishful sun, scattered sea'

Photos: Fashion Gone Rogue.

For more, visit my write-up on Trend Hunter (where I start interning in a week!), here.

inked

Photo: Fashionising.

Marloes Horst in Vogue China, "Tattoo Me Beautiful," May 2010. A revamp of the tramp stamp, perhaps? Just kidding. Kinda.

the mackness

Photos: Dazed Digital.

The Laura Mackness & Weekday collabo just reaffirms my hypothesis that black lipstick makes everything look billionaire badass.

extremist

London's Gabriella Marina Gonzales Fall/Winter 2010 accessories collection aptly dubbed "Victorian Sci-Fi Surgery." Lady Gaga-esque accessories, ankle breaking wedges, cute pup, cat suit, an air that is reminiscent of a Victorian psych ward... what more could I ask for? Photos: gabriellamarinagonzales.com.

zing

Model Peter Bruder's self-portrait. Photo: The Fashionisto.

turn the dark on

Photos: Noir Facade.

These photos are from a vintage The Face editorial, "Turn The Dark On." By vintage, I mean published in 1997. Devon Aoki has an orphanesque face, almost like a female Oliver Twist. You know, the dirty face, the sullen eyes, the rosy cheeks. It all works wonders for me.

details

Photos: Vogue.fr.

cass bird

Part of the photography exhibition, "Younger Than I'll Be," curated by Skye Parrott, and showing at BAMart in Brooklyn.

kara hamilton

Photos via Salon 94.

Jewelry by Kara Hamilton, a Canadian based in Brooklyn. Enough said.

want agency: acne, filippa k, nudie

Nudie Fall 2010 raw denim leatheresque jeans


Rep for Nudie, Emily, wearing Nudies


Acne Spring 2010


Acne Spring 2010


Acne Spring 2010


Kortney showing off her dream jumpsuit, Filippa K Fall 2010


Yours truly in a thin, soft, drapey leather jacket, Filippa K Fall 2010
P.S. I wore my Acne jeans, and then felt kind of silly/lame for wearing them. Ridiculous, right?


Rep for Filippa K in last season's garb


Filippa K Fall 2010


Filippa K Fall 2010


My rings: vintage, Marc Jacobs x Maripol, broken Forever 21 (left to right)

WANT Agency's Montreal office put on a private press day ce soir for the showings of the following Swedish brands: denimhead favourite Nudie, effortlessly cool Acne, and the always classic, but detailed Filippa K. The Acne pieces were Spring 2010, already in-store, but the Nudie and Filippa K goodies were all Fall 2010, and will spring up in shops around August. The event was held in the new hair salon (but if you ask the owners, not a hair salon) Salon Sweet William on St. Laurent, and DJed by Duvall. Kortney and I snacked on my favourite brain food, cupcakes and beer, which ended up being my dinner. Yum (to the clothes and my nosh session).