One of the world’s most influential contemporary art fairs, Frieze London focuses only on contemporary art and living artists. Sharing our values of integrity and community, Frieze champions the most exciting artists working today – from the emerging to the iconic. With a legitimacy that resonates beyond the art world, it was a natural choice to partner with this preeminent organisation to tell the story of Mark and Ellen’s creative collaboration.
Exploring how Weston and Carey came to work together on the dunhill Spring Summer 2022 collection, ‘IDENTITIES’, the film dissects the concurrent themes that link both creators’ work. Connecting digitally from either side of the Atlantic, Mark was immediately drawn to Ellen’s curious approach to process, experimentation, and discovery. With the freedom to reinterpret pieces from her existing catalogue, the collaborative result sees selected works applied to dunhill silhouettes, punctuating the collection with bold, colourful prints.
Known for her experimental approach to lens-based art, photography and technology, Carey investigates minimal and abstract images using a large-format Polaroid 20 X 24 camera – one of only five in the world. Her photogram work is darkroom-based and camera-less; it parallels her Polaroid less-is-more aesthetic. Both practices subvert the photograph’s conventional status through the innovative exploration of light, exposure, and paper.
“Process and its possibilities are an on-going fascination for me, and the importance of trusting instinct while embracing the accidentals. The painterly colours, patterns and textures that result in Ellen’s work reminded me of similar textiles and treatments I work with. It just seemed logical to ask her to work with us at dunhill – and it is a great privilege that she agreed.” – Mark Weston.
Signature ready to wear and accessories comprise this rarefied moment for the House. Including the new era Lock bag, these limited-edition pieces find a variety of colourful forms this season.
Driven by a desire to convey what a British luxury brand is today, Weston’s renewed vision for dunhill embraces past, present, and future. With an insistence on quality, innovation and subversion of House codes, his collections and creations are sophisticated yet provocative.
