In conversation with Innerlight @ Salon de Normandy
Discover a special Inner light by photographer Jules Moskovtchenko and stylist Damèse Savidan, followed by a discussion with the multi faceted collective.
https://www.instagram.com/inner__lightt/
PHOTOGRAPHY & DIRECTION Jules Moskovtchenko
VIDEO & DIRECTION ASSISTANT Océane Bacher
FASHION DIRECTION Damèse Savidan
FASHION ASSISTANT Levaï Yatchou
MAKE UP Louise Trapier
MUSIC VIDEO Andreas Lumineau
MODELS
DOURANE @boyfall.out / AMALIA @amaliavairelli
SONIA @ichtisonia / BAPTISTE @lordmenes / ANDRE @andreatangana / LEO @leolacape
MAIA @haia.mawad / LEA @lea.combacal
Who are you? What is your background?
GAIA: I’m Gaia Vincensini a visual artist based between Geneva and Paris. I graduated from the Haute école d'Art et de Design in Geneva 5 years ago. I work mainly with printmaking and textiles. I have always dreamed of doing fashion, I basically got into Vivienne Westwood through manga comics as a teen and started digging from that experience. That’s why we have a deep love for DIY and craft culture.
KIM: I'm Kim Coussée, a graphic designer based between Lausanne and Paris and I'm surrounded by clothes.
SHERIAN: I'm Sherian Mohammed Forster and I was born in Cointrin, Geneva, I've been around here a lot, studied fine art, Ethiopian and Swiss-german background, lost in translation with a lot of fantasy, wikipedia, IMDb, YouTube and Limewire.
ELIOTT: I grew up in the Geneva countryside. I studied architecture and photography. I was also researching and experimenting with printmaking and fabric on my own.
Why "INNER LIGHT"? Explain!
Because in these dark times, where all we have are promesses of an upcoming mass extinction, we wanted to focus on a collective redemption through cooperation and a collective vision. Also because we need to feel better and elevate, and actually it starts from the inside.
Can you please show us your logo?
We don’t have a logo. We have symbols that we like to repeat, that could be understood as such, but nothing official. I don’t think it really makes sense for us as we are happy as this in-between of art life and fashion. I love that we weren’t formatted by the industry, by being self-taught. It has allowed us to pick what we really want to be and to transform as needed.
Can you take a selfie wearing Inner light?
Where are you based?
We are based between Geneva, Lausanne and Paris. But basically anywhere with an etching studio and a place we can sew.
Is Switzerland inspiring at all? How?
GAIA: Yes, very much. You realize pretty quickly the links between big corporations, low taxes and cultural funding as well. I find it really interesting that big corporations have all developed powerful art foundations and that they can basically control what is seen and what will make history. I always felt like Switzerland offers a really interesting worldview. I am fascinated by the monsters that our era has produced and there are many of them in CH.
KIM: Having lived between Belgium and Switzerland during my childhood, I was able to face what people who do not know Switzerland can have as like a priori. It was interesting to realize how it happens in a certain reality.
SHERIAN: Geneva is inspiring because it’s one of the most intricate and multi-layered contexts I know. It’s like a Rosetta Stone for the rest of the world as well.
Your favorite places there?
GAIA: One of my favorite places in Switzerland is “parking des grottes” in Geneva. I love it because it’s one of the last places that are not so sanitized in the city. I also love the train station of small town Rivaz, because it looks like a Miyazaki, and they have the most breathtaking sunset. I also love the dark mountains of Valais, when you reach the Italian border, it's beautiful, scary and magical, not unlike the Mordor.
KIM: Aah wow yes! I think everywhere in train between Lausanne – Montreux, etc… When you can see the lake and let the clouds reveal the pretty early evening colors. Always better when you have your train tickets though!
SHERIAN: The Museum of Natural History in Geneva, the CFF train station there, l’Allondon.
ELIOTT: The Châtelaine neighborhood in Geneva, because this is where I met a lot of people who inspired me and allowed me to be where I am.
How was the collaboration with Jules Moskovtchenko? What is the story behind this shoot?
The collaboration was great and fluid. We loved the idea of taking advantage of the incredible place that is the Normandy hotel to make a beautiful story. We got in touch with Jules and gave him free rein over his vision of our collection, with help of our friend the styliste Damèse Savidan. It was really great, he had a strong vision of what he wanted for the shoot and it really matched the set up, and the clothes Damèse picked fit perfectly. He was extremely precise and focused, even though the team at the Hotel was trying to kick us out, he managed to do everything with stellar talent. We were always following his project as we navigate a shared circle of friends, everything was very organic.
Another brand/designer you admire?
KIM: Katya Zelentsova, Y Project, Miu Miu 90’s shoes.
GAIA: Claire Barrow, Vivienne Westwood, Women History Museum.
SHERIAN: Bally and Hood By Air.
ELIOTT: Vivienne Westwood, OG2000, asspizza, Maison Margiela.
What was your favorite project/Inner light piece you created and why?
KIM: a set of pieces gloves and top.
GAIA: Since it’s a collaborative self-taught project that allow us to work with many people, Inner light often feels as my dream fashion school. I think it was clearly the shoot at the Salon de Normandy because I felt like, at that point, we could really develop and define our identity. Also working with a fashion stylist was so rich and interesting, because you really see another facet of a piece once you see it styled and worn by different people, paired with shoes and integrated to a narrative that doesn't originate from your mind.
SHERIAN: My first Inner light project was making a sweatshirt inspired of Gaïa’s armor-using scan, screenprint, spray, embroidery and transfer.
ELIOTT: I love every piece we made, each piece represents an evolution and a particular moment.
If you were doing a show with models on the runway, what would be the ideal soundtrack?
KIM: FKA twigs — Hide, live performance in the middle of the Mayan ruins, 2014.
GAIA: The four of us performing as a punk band.
SHERIAN: A whole vibe like this song: Mary J.Blige, 50 Cent, The Game, G-Unit - Hate it or love it!
ELIOTT: A full soundtrack by ecco2k or Malibu.
Explain the concept of your project shown at Salon de Normandy by the Community.
We created a massive soft sculpture of a Swiss cross that was lying down in a hotel bed, like it was resting after a wild night. We wanted it to be an evocation of our creative process. What I loved about this piece is that it was really performance-forward. Sewing, filling and displaying it was a celebration of cooperation, because of the heaviness and the size. We also presented a capsule of new clothes, with a greater focus on bright colours. At the end of the shoot, all the models gathered to push it out. It was beautiful.
For more information go read our article about the event here.
Your favorite
— piece of art?
GAIA: Any painting by Leonora Carrington and any jewellery by Bernhard Schobinger.
SHERIAN: Kanye West’s presentation at Madison Square Garden on my laptop.
ELIOTT: Heidi Bucher’s skinnings.
— pop star?
KIM: Sade
GAIA: Mylène farmer
SHERIAN: Sade (okay!)
ELIOTT: Kodak black / Florence Rey
— dish?
KIM: Between butter chicken & injera my heart is torn
SHERIAN: Injera
GAIA: Any Peruvian classic + any French dessert
ELIOTT: Butter chicken
— street?
GAIA: Rue des amis, Genève
ELIOTT: Via Bellini, Piedimonte Etneo, Sicile
— website?
GAIA: the old website of gorillaz that was a precious work of art but it’s gone now...
KIM: Amour Sucré
SHERIAN: Youtube
ELIOTT: Fela.5v.pl
— piece of clothing you own?
SHERIAN: Christian Audigier’s Ed Hardy reversible zip-up hoodie.
ELIOTT: Stop Pretending polo
— comic character?
KIM: Sophie in Howl's Moving Castle
SHERIAN: Spider-man/Thorgal
GAIA: All characters of Ai Yazawa mangas
ELIOTT: Dragon ball Z
— movie?
SHERIAN: Traffic/Babel
KIM: Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind
ELIOTT: Un prophète
— city?
KIM: Kigali where my mom is from
GAIA: Loriani, the Corsican village where my father lives.
SHERIAN: Addis Abeba
ELIOTT: Rome
— word?
KIM: Oil & moisture
GAIA: Unity, Trust, Together
SHERIAN: "Certes" (Indeed in english)
— music video?
SHERIAN: Ciara - RIde
ELIOTT: SAWMAL - 100%P
Who would you like to dress?
GAIA: Every person is a dream to dress.
SHERIAN: 21 Savage, SahBabii or Sheck Wes.
What are your upcoming projects?
We will shoot a video featuring our new collection in the permanent collection of Mamco Museum in Geneva, some exhibitions and more!
