Teaming up with Braamfontein’s Kalashnikovv Gallery, global denim brand G-Star RAW has collaborated with local artists to explore denim culture in South Africa with ‘How We Wear Ours’, a showcase of the work of Cape Town and Johannesburg based illustrators, photographers and stylists on their interpretation of jeans culture in South Africa and in response to G-Star’s Autumn/Winter ’15 campaign question ‘How do you wear yours?’
The project includes work from Anthony Bila, Gabrielle Kannemeyer, Jade Klara, Trevor Stuurman, Smiso Zwane (Okmalumkoolkat) and Paul Ward, interpreting the brief to take jeans-related words and rethinking them in their own way. With the words spanning from tight, wide, high low, to the more abstract, badass, lived in, pressed or turned up – the results are sure to be interesting.
The exhibition is curated by gallery owners Murray Turpin and Matthew Dowdle and coincides with the monthly First Thursdays this month.
We had some insights from some of the contributors of the project:
Gabrielle Kannemeyer x Paul Ward
Freelance stylist and creative director Gabrielle Kannemeyer teams up with photographer and director Paul Ward (diaryofward.com) to produce a 5 image photographic series for the ‘How We Wear Ours?’ exhibition. Having worked as a stylist on music videos for Spoek Mathambo/Fantasma, Petite Noir and Beatenberg, Kannemeyer’s work has been featured in Vman, Sicky Magazine, i-D, The Fader, Russh and Fucking Young! Ward’s eye for honest beauty and capturing real moments has become signature to his cinematic style. At the core of his work lays a personal understanding of, and integration in, the culture he captures, giving his work a rarely seen authenticity.
Q: What inspired the series of photographs that will be exhibited as part of the ‘How We Wear Ours’ Exhibition being held at Kalashnikovv Gallery on Thursday 1 October?
A: We shot under the cloak of darkness, with our subjects illuminated by ambient light. Clothed in layers comprised of intricate textures, their silhouettes were dressed to deconstruct conventions of wearability and to highlight each garment’s versatility.
It was important for us to capture emphasised attributes we associated with G-Star RAW and it’s wearers. Exuding strength and individuality – passersby stared at the surreal scenes of our two models glistening under the street lights.
Our intention was to contrast or create a disconnect between our subjects and the environment we captured them in, in order to realise these strange images that could almost be cinematic stills.
Anthony Bila
Anthony Bila is a multi-disciplinary artist who works across various mediums from music and writing, to film and fine art – focusing on the showcase of, and collaboration within, African talent beyond all else. he has worked with various brands and his work has been exhibited work in South Africa, Europe and Asia. Collaborating with Lulama Mlambo, Anthony Bila’s work answered the question ‘How Do You Wear Yours? Destroyed? Or Restored?’
Q: What does denim mean to you?
A: Denim in it’s RAW form, is a metaphor for life, for our existence. Over time, denim will usually fade, and this happens on those parts of the denim that receives the most stress. Despite that stress or strain, the denim develops more personality and character, the flaws become what makes it unique, beautiful. It’s similar to the art or philosophy of Kinsukuroi and Wabi Sabi, as a philosophy it’s all about treating
breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise. No matter how much denim rips, it can be repaired and restored, on repeat.
Q: What inspired the series of photographs that will be exhibited as part of the ‘How We Wear Ours’ Exhibition being held at Kalashnikovv Gallery on Thursday 1 October?
A: The ancient Chinese philosophy of yin-yang recounts how seemingly opposing or contradicting forces are actually complementary, one cannot exist without the other, they are interconnected. They give rise to one another in their most raw sense or nature. This tangible duality exists all around us, in light and dark for example or in this instance, in destruction [destroy] and restoration [restore]. This physical manifestation of duality is symbolised in how one entity can be both ying and yang, an instrument of destruction and restoration, one in the same.
Trevor Stuurman
Describing himself as a small town boy working towards his big city dreams, Johannesburg-based Stuurman’s work spans disciplines. Beyond his BA (Hons) degree in Motion Picture and work in film and photography, Stuurman is also a stylist and was crowned the first ELLE Magazine Style Reporter, and Grazia Style Hunter in South Africa.
In 2015 Stuurman was named in the Mail & Guardian’s prestigious ‘200 Young South Africans’ list, which followed his place on GQ Magazine’s ‘Top 50 Best Dressed List’ in 2014.
Q: What does denim mean to you?
A: I see denim as a symbol of freedom, versatility and endurance.
Q: What inspired the series of photographs that will be exhibited as part of the ‘How We Wear Ours’ Exhibition being held at Kalashnikovv Gallery on Thursday 1 October?
A: The artwork is a celebration of just the product. I wanted to celebrate the versatility, innovation and the powerful design of GStar Raw Denim in an urban African space.
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