NICK KNIGHT - PORTRAITS

Context:

• Mid 90s to mid 00s.
• The rise of photoshop and image manipulation.
• The internet became a bible for information.
• On vibe with Guy Bourdin, he rejected fashion photography in fine art context, and rightly so. As fashion photography was just about to peak it needed to revel in itself for a while before merging with other practices. It would have got lost otherwise.

Fashion photography "had always been seen as one of the faster and most reactive genres of photography." 

Why does it have to be like that?

I want to be the King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard of film making.

Suede album cover - Coming Up.

"Young guitar player needed by London based band. Smiths, Commotions, Bowie, Pet Shop Boys. No Musos. Some things are more important than ability. Call Brett." - Suede in NME October 1989.

This spoke to me because it's sort of how I'm approaching this project. I have no technical skills and the look is what's going to get my work noticed.

The artwork was featured on Radio Xs Ugliest Britpop covers list, but it's the garishness that makes it so appealing to me.

If the vision in my head for this project was a genre of music it would be psychedelic glam rock.

Louis Vuitton.

Even though this is fashion photography all the attention has been taken away from the clothes by use of colour, the dress blends into the background and all attention is on the body of the model. Perhaps a comment on the fashion industry's treatment of women. Regardless of the meaning, visually it's very strong. Almost fire colours. What would I want to focus on in my photos that's not the actual portrait? I don't want to end up essentially copying this by focusing on the body, the concept is relatively over done anyway and I can't imagine I'd have anything drastically new to add. So background/setting, clothing or props would be my remaining options.

Leigh Bowery's entire entity aligns with my ideas. The gimp-like masks he wears make subtle hints to fetish wear and the outlandishness of drag questions reality, both themes I want to pursue. The rough around the edges appeal we get from the VHS style video is something worth thinking about in terms of how to incorporate it into a still image.

Cotton, C. (2009). Nick Knight. New York: Collins Design.
Knight, N. (1990). Generations of Love for Boy George.
Knight, N. (1992). Guiser, Leigh Bowery. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/RLvwedrBqPo [Accessed 8 Oct 2017].
Knight, N. (1996). Shalom Harlow for Louis Vuitton.
Knight, N. (1996). Suede Coming Up (album cover).
Radio X. (2017). Picture This: Are these the Ugliest Britpop Album Covers Ever?. [online] Available at: http://www.radiox.co.uk/features/picture-this-ugliest-britpop-album-covers-ever/ocean-colour-scene-marchin-already-artwork/ [Accessed 8 Oct. 2017].