NOTE: The interview of Pierre Debusschere is part of the 6th issue of ISTEROGRAFO magazine dedicated to fashion, coming out in a few days. All photographs were found via Google and have nothing to do with the printed version.
Dear iDEALS, Pierre Debusschere is a visual artist working in the fields of photography & video. He has shot editorials for several leading magazines such as Vogue Homme Japan and Citizen K, as well as being a regular contributor to Dazed & Confused. His work has been exhibited throughout Europe including a presentation at Colette in Paris during fashion week where he creatively interpreted the collections, producing an original fashion film based on a runway collection each day.
He is also online artistic director at Raf Simons.
In his work, Debusschere strives to create an emotional connection by combining both moving and still-life elements alongside an innovative use of light. Documenting photoshoots, using backstage and runway footage of fashion shows, experimenting with light - all are methods Debusschere uses to create groundbreaking content. Going beyond the traditional processes involved in creating a fashion image, his work truly embodies the multimedia crossover.
How did you like your work making the cover of the previews issue of Ysterografo?
I liked the fact that you dared to put that kind of image on a cover! Usually it has to be sharp I was really happy !
(still from M.MARTIN MARGIELA SS09, a film by Pierre Debusscherre)
What is exactly your creative background?
I have been in art school since the age of 14! When I finished high school I wanted to secure the energy that you find in atelier at school, and so we decided with some friends to create in the center of Brussels. An art oriented building. At the moment we are 4 residents in the atelier-mixing medium such as drawing, sculpture, fashion, music and film & photography.
It is impressive for one to know that you are so young but yet managed to give such strong working results. Has your age ever been a problem on how people conceive you?
I’m 25. My age was never a problem and thinking it is because that my first real professional experiences were with Dazed and Confused a magazine where all the team is so young .
How can a self-taught video artist become such master in editing?
I still have to improve myself! I’m pretty sure that I do a lot of wrong manipulation, but I like it in a way.
Your photographs always present an abstract moment or a subject; a man or a woman. Why are your characters so mysterious?
I always want to put emotions in my work and maybe this could serve as a reason! I like when you dive into a picture, when you need time to read it ... It gives also space to create your own story while reading the image.
When did you start “playing around” with light turning it to the key factor of your work?
In Iceland winter! I mean there is no light besides the wonderful northern lights... I love to play with cheap lights, they are not strong you have to keep the lenses open for a long time,
I think in that way it gives you a good opportunity to dive, like I said before inside the picture; and because of this long pause it gives you more an aspect of movement. I like to cross the photography and film mediums,
Get some movement in stills and slow motion in the film.
How does “fashion lifestyle” appeal to you? The Beckhams and the Lohans…generally?
I think its for that I like living in Brussels because I can be in & out the fashion scene! Its a love-hate relationship, but quit going well at the moment . There is always interesting people everywhere!
Whats is your Raf Simmons collaboration about exactly?
For now I’m his online art-director ... its really great to work with Raf and his team, I feel really free there and trusted! Give more and more time to this work. Its really great to be able to build up something not only for one editorial but to be involve in the creation of a brand’s image.
Once you finish a project, how important it is for you overwhelming the viewer or client?
Off course I like when people like the result, but its really rare that something comes out whiteout the approval of my co-workers: if they like it I’m already really happy !
As you may have seen, communicating fashion through videos has become the “big thing” for perhaps the next five years. As you see it , why is this happening?
Maybe because the Internet became so big! And I think people in the industry wanted to create something special for this media. I like working with videos because you can really focus on movement and rhythm, two of my most important subjects.
How do you start a project? What is the process about? What are you looking for in the people you cast each time?
I always start researching a lot on the subject as I want to be able to know what I’m talking about. For now I’m on a big project based on the subject of melancholia, So you can imagine that my free time is full of dark books and German paintings... As for models I quite like to work with the same ones, as it really great to build a more personal relation together and gain the person’s trust ! But the first thing I’m looking for is emotion, especially trough the eyes.
How does your family see your work?
They are more happy when they see a spread about me in an usual Belgian mag or when I showed them my collaboration with Vogue Homme Japan.
Can you tell me more about your recent exhibitions?
One solo in Portugal and London and one with other people in Paris... It was great after this year of hard fashion related jobs, to finally be able to put out my own choices and to not being cut off by someone else.. And to be able to work on my personal projects.
What is the aim for your personal short coming future?
Another solo exhibition in London ( taking the "opera" as an starting point ) , working more & more with Raf, some editorials & more ! As something new is always coming up ;)
Note: All works by Pierre Debusschere. Interview Copyright Filep Motwary/ Un nouVeau iDEAL.THANK YOU Lucy Moreno
love him
Posted by: horst | January 26, 2010 at 22:29