This week, we shine the spotlight on five millenial fashion graduate photographers based in Central Saint Martins, London.
Ongoing themes of identity throughout run throughout the student photographers work; and speaks to a new generation’s perspective regarding gender, sexuality and race. With this being the first-ever MA Communications exhibit that the University has showcased these creatives bring a fresh set of eyes to the London design scene.
1. Coco Wu
Amongst the newest fashion photographers, Coco Wu stands strong. The process of photography begins for her, far before she captures the image. Her work is heavily reliant on the subject which is chosen purely by her own intuition. Whether this is on the street, in a university class or at an art exhibit. Wu chooses to invest time into who she is shooting showcasing a more authentic depiction of people within her work.
“My approach has changed quite a lot over the years but my practice has always centred on the people I photograph – most of whom I’ve street-casted. I think of my shoots like a collaboration between me and the subjects, and I fill in the rest of the blanks on the day”.
2. Farid Renais Ghimas
Farid Renais Ghimas is a photographer who constantly revisits his cultural heritage through a photographic medium.
Within his major project, he quite literally did this. He does so through a pilgrimage to his grandmother’s home village in Bengkulu, Indonesia Ghimas was able to capture a series of photographs featuring family members and people within his native community. Creating a series of images deeply rooted in cultural themes of identity.
“My photography is like a mix between documentary and staged portraiture – it’s about finding common ground between myself and the people I photograph and I spend a lot of time getting to know them first. I place an emphasis on caught moments and familiar settings within my life.”
Ghimas says to Dazed.
3. Kayla Connors
Kayla Connors draws heavy inspiration from the mundane nature of life. Her style of photography is the unification of high fashion and everyday life, telling stories of youth, heartbreak and feminity. Through the displaying concepts of familiarity within her work, Connors makes high fashion appear comfortably casual.
“If I put my model in a really expensive dress, I’ll add in some sneakers I’ve had since I was a kid, just to pull you back from the height which is high fashion,”
Connors tells Dazed.
3. Mariam Taiwo
Blending her Nigerian and British roots Taiwo creates a fusion of culture and high fashion through her boldly monochromatic photographs. The work articulates the photographers up bringing where she was constantly being torn between the two different spheres of culture. Alongside themes of race she conveys messages of sexual identity and gender through her selection of garments which primarily consist of formal wear.
“It’s not only about race, but sex, too: dressing a woman in a suit is empowering. I also love working with millinery – I loved the process of creating exaggerated hats from the Ankara fabric with a Nigerian milliner.”
Taiwo tells Dazed.
“I’m a Nigerian and British citizen but a Londoner at heart. Being from two different cultures has been a lifelong challenge so communicating these ideas in my work has been a real help to me and others who can relate.” Taiwo says to Dazed.
4. SCOTT BOWLBY
Through his work, Scott Bowlby explores what it means to come of age. Within his major project “A little more beautiful” the photographer blends high fashion with the idea of intimacy, inspired by his own experiences of sexuality. Through his work Bowlby explores moments, queerness, youth and romance.
“I always feel the best work is when you can feel some part of yourself in it, and the themes I typically return to are the taboo-ness of sex; the performance of identity and appearance; and western masculinity and its physicality”
he tells Dazed.
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