Our instructor hadn’t even finished explaining the assignment before I started working on the image above. As soon as I heard ‘Magazine Editorial’ I immediately began sourcing images of Alexander McQueen. Labeled an enfant terrible in his industry for the controversial collections constructed and runway shows he produced. To this day he’s the mightiest underdog in high fashion. Fifteen years after his passing and there’s yet to be another name in fashion able to blend fine art with design so effectively.
The news of his death hit me hard. When I found out that Crocker Art Museum right here in Sacramento had an exhibit with his designs, I marched myself right down there. I spent 3 hours listening to Sigur Ros on my head phones circling the displays – seriously I must have walked through 4 or 5 times spending 5 minutes at each dress, it was not that big. Each tour through became more emotional and more spectacular. The detail in his craftsmanship absolutely exceptional. I fought back the tears of joy until I came upon contact sheets of his portraits – then I cried, y’all.
“I think there is beauty in everything. What ‘normal’ people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it.”
I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while. As I look at the photos I took that day I’m just now noticing the date they were taken; exactly two years ago today.
RIP McQueen, you are remembered. 🖤
