In the past year, I’ve become increasingly fascinated with the idea of monoliths.
Ethereal sculptures seemingly left behind by unknown entities to guide us humans to a new perspective. There’s something about granting permeance to mysticism that I quite love.
So when I watched Saint Laurent’s SS2023 menswear show and saw an incredible glowing metal ring rise from a mirage pond in the middle of the Moroccan desert, enthralled could only begin describe what I felt.
Designed by renowned artist and set designer Es Devlin, this incredible monolithic ring framed Saint Laurent’s show against the shimmering beauty of the Agafay desert.
According Devlin, the work was inspired by Paul Bowles’ iconic 1949 novel ‘The Sheltering Sky’. In it, Bowles reminds us to consider the precious finite within the seemingly infinite, that life is an “inexhaustible well”.
As the surreal ring of light emerged from a hazy mist, Saint Laurent’s latest collection mirrored its sharp lines and fantastical sense of escape and exploration. A perfect meeting of the minds between Es Devlin and YSL’s Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello. The showpiece was a beautiful tribute to the house’s founder and how he sought refuge in Morocco.
Personally, I loved how the piece, set against the red desert terrain and a parade of models dressed in fluid futurism, gave the entire show a sense of cinematic sci-fi ritualism. It felt like I was on an alien planet, watching an ancient ceremony take place. The whole experience was a tour de force of fashion and storytelling.
Watch the full show here:
Image Credit: Es Devlin & Saint Laurent
Comentários