Epictetus was a Greek philosopher. The Philosophy, he taught, is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline. To Epictetus, all external events are determined by fate, and are thus beyond our control, but we can accept whatever happens calmly and dispassionately. Individuals, however, are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline. Suffering arises from trying to control what is uncontrollable, or from neglecting what is within our power. As part of the universal city that is the universe, human beings have a duty to care for all fellow humans. The person who followed these precepts would achieve happiness and peace of mind according to Epictetus.
Another point of view on the W&V collections: Model Eef wearing the Warmenhoven & Venderbos Wrinkle V-neck dress (Fashion-)shot and immortalised by photographer/stylist duo Rommen & Bravenboer.
Photos: Jeroen Rommen | Styling, makeup and hair: Ester Bravenboer | Model: Eef, Max models
Photographer Greg Kessler captures models backstage as they arrive at fashion shows,he has created a photo series called Model Morphosis which shows models before and after makeup. Greg Kessler captures with these shots the transformations of the model but also the transformation of the identity of the person and her look. For his series he shot backstage at shows of various fashion designers. This repeat of faces and transformations, is one of the aspects which turns the Model Morphosis series also into a very interesting and inspiring conceptual model.
A part of the series has been posted on the T Magazine blog, the style magazine of the New York Times. Instead of a side-by-side placement, there is a flash sliding bar that you move over the photo to reveal the full transformation.
Photos: Greg Kessler | New York Times Style Magazine
Photo top, Hair: Guido Palau, Makeup: Pat McGrath, Model: Edita Vilkeviciute | Photo bottom, Hair: Martin Cullen, Makeup: Alex Box, Model: Karolin Wolter
Cindy Sherman is an American photographer and film maker who is known for her conceptual self portraits. Her works can rely on shock, surprise but also beauty. Depending on what era her works have focused on. As a female artist, Sherman addressed the issue of physical gender expectations and identity formation.
Sherman’s earlier work has toyed with and skewered feminine mystique. In her seminal Untitled Film Stills and other conceptual female portraits, she cast herself in most pictures, adopting various roles in the photographs that both exploit and comment on the male gaze, as well as create a running narrative about female identity.
Her latest works seem to be representative of Sherman looking forward in time. Sherman seems to be focusing on a period of transition and uncertainty in the lives of Western womanhood. The time of sexual attraction and procreation is seemingly over for these women. These society women are approaching a time when their previously engaged and active lives begin to slow down. The slight satirical appearances of the women hint at a vulnerability and a despair in the not too distant future, despite the many attempts at proud stances by these women. Rather than these pictures being a reflection of how men view women, these are strictly Sherman’s eyes we are seeing through this time.
The second remarkable fact about this latest series is that they are basically larger then life. Not only the physical photo dimensions are over-sized but also the make up Sherman uses to assume each specific identity and role for the photographs has been purposefully over done, the clothing worn in each photo helps tell a story, and the poses range from icy cold to slightly demented. There’s women in ball gowns alone in their own living rooms. Women who are trying very hard to look good for the camera.
