Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin don't like to play it safe. The Dutch duo were among the first photographers to exploit digital manipulation while Photoshop was in its infancy in the 1990s, distorting body parts and manipulating backgrounds, and their vast oeuvre swings between horror and beauty, the subtle and the grotesque. This makes the 300 images in their latest show at Foam Fotografiemuseum a thrilling mix.
Titled 'Pretty much Everything', the exhibition spans the length of their partnership, which began in the mid-80s. Their careers first spiralled when they took over ten pages in the now closed magazine, The Face, in 1994. For the first time in a fashion series, the models and the backgrounds were photographed separately and combined in a single image via a computer. This toying with reality typifies their work, which has always subverted, as well as celebrated, fashion.
On show are some of their iconic personal images, like 'Me Kissing Vinoodh (passionately)', a huge stream of campaigns for the likes of Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Balmain and Chloé, and their collaborations with artists such as M/M Paris, sculptor Eugene van Lamsweerde and theatre group Mug Met De Gouden Tand.
’Bjork - Poisson Nageur’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2000
’Anastasia’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1994
’Delfine’ Balenciaga campaign by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, in collaboration with M/M Paris, 2001
’Joanna’ Herve Leger campaign by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1995
’Untitled (Head 1)’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2008
’Kate’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1999
’Kirsten’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1996
’Roos and Ann Catherine’ Balenciaga campaign by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1999
’Me #3’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1998
’Well, Basically...’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1994, for The Face
’Chloe Campiagn’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2004
’Clint Eastwood’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2005, for the New York Times Magazine
’Gwyneth Paltrow’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2004, for the New York Times Magazine
’Kate Drowning’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2006
’Joan’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2005, with Theatre Group Mug Met De Gouden Tand
Maggie Rizer in Yohji Yamamoto campaign by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1997
Natalie Portman by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 2005, for the New York Times Magazine
’Me Kissing Vinoodh (Passionately)’ by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, 1999
ADDRESS
Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam
Keizersgracht 609
1017 DS Amsterdam
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