On September 6th, Justice Indu Malhhotra declared that “history owes an apology to members of the LGBT community for the delay in ensuring their rights” in regards to her role in helping decriminalize gay sex. In celebration of India’s landmark ruling, the editors highlight our five queer figures from history. Nuns, sexologists, and everything in between.
In every generation, there are young creatives who inspire social change, challenge society’s perceptions of beauty, and create spaces where those their age can express themselves. Through their tireless struggle, these trailblazers help make the world a better place. Here are our picks for the game-changers who are changing the social and artistic landscapes of fashion.
An interview with one of Teen Eye's artists to watch, conducted by Kiannah Zambrano.
How has your geographical location (Belgium) influenced your artwork? Does Belgium have a specific and usual mood that reflects on your art?
I live in Antwerp, a city full of great architecture and artistic opportunities. I’m definitely inspired by the abundance of great museums. However, I don’t think my location has influenced my art a lot, I’m so used to living in Belgium and I don’t have experiences with living anywhere else, that it became a normal thing to see all the old buildings around me. I think I’m more inspired by the people i see here. The clothes that people wear and the way they carry themselves fascinates me. Belgium has a great variety of different cultures and people, and when I go out I always see someone that inspires me to draw or gives me ideas.
Do you tend to be more of an introvert or an extrovert? How does this affect your perspective on things?
I’m definitely more of an introvert, I’ve always found difficulty in making friends and I spend a lot of time with myself. This affects my work, my sketchbook is my main space for letting out all of my thoughts, ideas, worries. Drawing has become a very intimate and therapeutic act, it helps to process the day and keeps my thoughts in order. This makes my work more personal because I incorporate a lot of my feelings into my drawings.
Are there any specific people that serve as your inspirations/muses?
I’m very inspired by artists like Egon Schiele and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Their work is very raw and they have a clear style that they project onto the viewer. Shantell Martin is also a big inspiration, her work seems so free and spontaneous. She draws on walls, and big surface areas. Which is something I’ve been wanting to do for a very long time now. When I see her work, I get sudden bursts of creativity, a feeling that I need to draw. That’s what makes her one of my favourite artists.
Do you have more of an appreciation for modern day artists, or artists from the past?
Although I enjoy the work of artists from the past, I’m more inspired by modern day artists. especially young artists like me. I think it’s great to see young people experimenting with different styles and gaining popularity by doing the things they love.
These days, people often tell me that I can’t get a successful career in art, because it doesn’t pay well or it’s hard to become popular in the industry. But I think that if you’re motivated and keep going, you will be able to make a living out of it. When I see young artists doing this, I become really inspired by their determination and talent.
Do you have any specific advice for young artists?
Young artists lead busy lives, focusing on school, friends and art isn’t always easy. If you’re stuck in the same routine for too long you tend to loose inspiration. Go out and try different things, take a sketchbook everywhere you go and write about your thoughts and ideas. Experiment with different techniques and find your own style. Make art for yourself, don’t do it for anyone else.
At what age did you begin to get into art?
I have been drawing for as long as I can remember, my parents are both very involved with art and they motivated me from a very early age to start experimenting with it. My mom used to take me to the zoo every year to draw animals, and my dad was always looking out for exhibitions to visit. This made my love and appreciation for art grow.
Do you recall the first art piece you made?
I don’t consider everything I make art. it’s usually just a flow of unfinished ideas on paper. I made my first art piece this year, a series of three collages inspired by the relationship between humans and nature. I consider this my first real art piece because it is something I am very proud of, I can look at it and clearly see the idea behind it. I made the series for an art assignment at school. At first I was convinced that I was terrible at collage, so I had never tried it before. But after making that series, my love for collage grew and now I incorporate it a lot more in my work.
When you draw, what is your artistic process like, is it more scatterbrained or do you have a set idea of what you want to see?
My artistic process is very messy. If I have an idea, I start immediately. this makes my work more spontaneous. I try not to plan out my drawings, because this usually causes me to feel disappointed in the end result, because it didn’t turn out how I imagined it to be. I use photos as a reference for most of my drawings and I try to focus on simplicity.
See more of Laura's work on her blog here.
In the 21st century, musicians have had a spike in creative and distributional freedom by being able to download software at the click of a mouse and share their tunes with millions in seconds. Zak Cannon sits down with Aeon Fux to discuss her world of creation, adoration of “creepy-crawlies”, and overcoming gender expectations.
Images and text by Zak Cannon.
When gold was discovered in California in 1848, San Francisco, a lonely town of 200, was transformed into a bustling city of 36,000 in a matter of a few years. Since then, the Bay Area city has evolved into a cultural epicenter for Asian Americans and young creatives. Over my spring break, I traveled to San Francisco and experienced the city myself. Now I’ll give you tips, recommendations, and insights into this gorgeous city right on the Pacific.
Big Sur
When you first arrive in Northern California, consider driving down south to the Big Sur and experiencing a ride alongside the cliffed Pacific Ocean. This drive is absolutely stunning- even Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss recently took a roadtrip along this famous strip of hills. Although many enjoy the beaches and picturesque views of this region, the town of Carmel is only a half-hour drive away. Here, you can explore classy boutiques, Mexican architecture, and Clint Eastwood’s own restaurant, the Hog’s Breath Inn.
View from Hotel Stratford
Once you arrive in San Francisco, you’ll of course want to go shopping. Take a bus to Union Square (or better yet, stay at Hotel Stratford, an accommodation right in the heart of the shopping center) and walk through the designer pinnacles like Saks Fifth Avenue, Alexander McQueen, Dior, and Valentino. To get a more local look, check out the thrift stores in The Haight and explore San Francisco’s Little Italy (known as North Beach). Here, a stop at Al’s Attire will get you custom-made, one-of-a-kind garments and a purchase at OOMA will get you a unique gift for a friend.
The Financial District
Wanting a bit more culture in California? San Francisco has two world-class museums, both of which are worth a visit- preferably on the same day, as a ticket to one will get you free entrance to the other! The de Young Museum houses classic American art, along with an observatory tower that overlooks the sprawling city. The Legion of Honor, at the very northwest point of the city, has a vast collection of European art including Monet, Van Gogh, Rodin, and Bouguereau. Plus, the Legion has spectacular architecture and a cast of Rodin’s The Thinker in the courtyard. A short walk from this spectacular museum will have you arriving at China Beach, a little-known gem with a view to rival even the most exotic destinations.
The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from China Beach
Ask any local- San Francisco is a spectacular city for food. Almost a third of the city is Asian, meaning fantastic Chinese and Japanese cuisine. M.Y. China in the Westfield Shopping Centre is quite popular, and for good reason. Award winning chef and TV host Martin Yan specializes in noodle dishes and irresistible wok delights for prices far below what you would expect at such a high-class eatery. If you’re wanting something more European, Sodini’s offers the cream of the crop Italian food in North Beach. And if you’re wondering where the countless fortune cookies in San Francisco come from, then take a side-step onto Ross Alley in Chinatown and grab a bag of freshly made cookies at the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.
The Legion of Honor
Public transportation is largely efficient and consistent in San Francisco. I used the numerous buses, streetcars, and cable cars to get to and fro every destination on my trip. Download Google Maps to route you anywhere in the city! If you’d rather have a driver of your own, San Francisco is full of Uber and Lyft drivers that will take you to where you want to be. Prefer renting a car? Remember to curb your wheels- or else find that the rolling hills of San Francisco have caused your rental to kiss the car behind it. Ouch!
Chinatown
There are countless ways to experience and enjoy this city that’s both equally modern and historical. The people of San Francisco are some of the most kind I’ve ever met. They’ll always stop to ask if you’re lost or recommend their favorite place to grab a coffee. Perhaps their friendliness stems from the stunning views, the delicious food, or maybe it’s something in the water. Either way, this gorgeous city is not one to miss. Just remember to recycle your fork- or else face the infamous San Francisco glare.
In one day, and out the next: that’s how modeling works. Casting directors are always looking for the next big thing, and in an industry that moves at lightning speed, there are always a select few girls that stick around for a little while longer. Here are a few new faces that have taken the fashion world by storm and are sure to stay.
Text by Carson Gartner.
When Hedi Slimane was appointed Creative Director of Yves Saint Laurent in 2012, the fashion world wasn’t sure what to expect. Slimane has since redefined the house and completely shined a new light on the Cool Girl.
Since its inception in 1961, the house of Yves Saint Laurent has epitomized elegance and refinery. Algerian-born Saint Laurent was heralded for bringing back the esteem of ready-to-wear and for using non-white models, a virtually unheard of choice in its day. In 1987, the designer passed his prêt-à-porter line over to his assistants, and in the following years, a succession of new head designers came and left the house. Hedi Slimane was first appointed as Collections and Art Director by Saint Laurent’s lover and co-founder of the house, Pierre Berge, in 1997, though he left two years later. In 2012, it was announced that Slimane would again return to the label, replacing Stefano Pilati as creative director. The fashion audience held its breath-Pilati had produced celebrated collections and was heralded by critics, but his pieces weren’t selling as expected. Hiring Slimane was an attempt by YSL to bring in the money that it had lost with Pilati at the helm.
Hedi Slimane’s new direction for the label was confirmed when he announced that the ready-to-wear line would be re-branded as Saint Laurent Paris. By his omission of “Yves,” Slimane signified his turn of focus from the origin of the house and Yves’s own collections and vision. Slimane moved the design studio to Los Angeles, another indication that he was looking to modernize the label. Slimane’s first collection debuted for Spring 2013, and was a somewhat conservative show. The tailored jackets and androgynous suits were a homage to Yves’s classic tuxedo suit and groundbreaking Le Smoking suit. This first collection caused critics to second guess their first feelings of apprehension. Slimane no doubt felt reassured by the overwhelmingly positive critical response, and he quickly laced up his boots to produce a collection that deviated even further away from the label’s roots. From his second collection all the way up to his Fall/Winter 2015 show, it has become increasingly clear what the label Saint Laurent Paris was all about: the Cool Girl.
The past five Saint Laurent collections have been injected with a 70s punk rock glam flair. Short leather jackets, ripped fishnets and yards of tulle evoke images of a young Nancy Spungen, and the messy-haired, red-lipped models traipsing down his runway solidify Slimane’s cool-without-trying vision. Even his muses are real-life cool-girls, among them Sky Ferreira, Grace Hartzel, Edie Campbell and Grimes. Slimane’s re-imagining of Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic ready-to-wear label, although not popular among critics, has once again made YSL a leading player in the fashion market. Sales have skyrocketed, and it looks as though Slimane is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Though many fashion fans turn their noses up at Slimane’s re-imagined Saint Laurent, I find myself gravitating towards his vision. While I do admit that I find the shows horribly styled–with each look more and more reminiscent of Courtney Love’s early club days–the individual pieces of each look lend themselves nicely to an editorial mode. In fact, the messy allure of Saint Laurent exemplifies the word of the season: jolie-laide, French for “beautiful ugly.” Gone are the days when one could find a Yves Saint Laurent dress on the red carpet, hugging the body of a Hollywood siren; the new Saint Laurent is manufactured for the effortlessly cool it-girl.
