Anthology of a Decade Hedi Slimane
Anthology of a Decade Hedi Slimane

PARIS, Dec 3, 2010 / FW/ — Great news for Hedi Slimane fans! The French designer turned uber photographer is set to launch his new book, “Hedi Slimane: Anthology of a Decade” plus an exhibition in Paris and another one in Brussels.

Though the world thinks of Hedi Slimane as a designer first and a photographer second, he sees it as the opposite. In a 2003 conversation with “Interview’s” Ingrid Sischy, Slimane discussed his beginnings as a photographer: “I started taking pictures before I even began in fashion. I didn’t start with clothes until I was 16, but I had my first camera when I was 11.”

Hence, when he left Dior Homme, it did not surprise many of his fans when Hedi focused on his photography.

With the release of “Hedi Slimane: Anthology of a Decade” (JRP Ringier Books, for release on March 1, 2011), readers can follow Hedi from the Paris catwalks to the streets of New York. Presented as four volumes, the book includes 600 black & white images spread over 800 pages.

But, before fashionistas delve into the book, they can whet their appetite for Hedi Sliman’s work by visiting the “Fragments Americana” photo exhibition at the Almine Rech gallery in Brussels. With a gala opening of February 24th, the exhibition is open to the public from February 25 to March 26, 2011.

The same time that “Fragments Americana Opens”, Hedi also “[…] Invites Oscar Tuazon Gus Van Sant” at the Almine Rech Gallery in Brussels. American-born Oscar Tuazon started his career in Tacoma, Washington wherein in 2007 he won the Seattle Art Museum’s Betty Bowen Award (worth $11,000).
Tuazon is currently based in Tacoma and Paris.

Gus Van Sant is an American film director who also happens to be a photographer. He is perhaps best known for winning the 2003 Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his film “Elephant.”

Two days later, on February 26th in Paris, Hedi will open “California Dreamin’ – Myths & Legends of Los Angeles”, an exhibit that he curated for the Almine Rech’s Paris outpost. “California Dreamin’ will feature a selection of works by California artists Ed Ruscha, Dennis Hopper, Raymond Pettibon, and Mike Kelley.

“California Dreamin’” will run concurrent with “Fragments of Americana.”

[MARI DAVIS]
Photos courtesy of Hedi Slimane