I would like to speak a little bit for the genius that STEVEN MEISEL is. Make a small introduction for his life and then put here some of the thinks he said in an interview with PIERRE ALEXANDRE DE LOOZ that interested me. Things that bring you closer to him and help you understand his personality a little bit better.
He is an American photographer born on June 5, 1954 and the first time I heard of him was after an article I found about his editorial Makeover Madness for Vogue Italia.
He studied fashion illustrator at Parsons, The new school of Design and his first job was for Halston. His first opportunity was given to him by Oscar Reyes a booker that liked his illustrations and allowed him to take pictures. He started photographing models which later used his pictures for their portfolios. A lot of them went casting for Seventeen magazine which there, once they saw his pictures, they asked him if he would like to work for them as a photographer.
He became one of the most powerful photographers in the fashion industry and he is credited with "discovering" or promoting the careers of many successful models, including Linda Evangelista, Guinevere Van Seenus, Kareen Elson, Meghan Collison, Amber Valleta, Kristen McMenamy, Stella Tennant and a lot more, by regularly featuring them in Vogue and various campaigns. He used his influence among the fashion elite to create an issue of Vogue that would show only black models. He also launched the career of Ross Van Der Heide, a young fashion designer, by showing Ross's artwork to Anna Sui.
"Obviously, I feel that fashion is totally racist. The one thing that taking pictures allows you to do is occasionally make a larger statement. After seeing all the shows though I feel it was totally ineffective. I was curious, because it received a lot of publicity, whether it would have any effect on New York, London, Paris, or Milan; and I found that it did not. They still only had one token black girl, maybe two. It’s the same as it always was and that’s the sad thing for me."
Steven Meisel
"In terms of the Vogues that I work for, certainly Vogue Italia is the most lenient and allows me to do more or less what I feel like doing. Not that they don’t also kill things, but that doesn’t happen often; it’s been the most creative outlet that I have. I tend to think Italy is very conservative, which is weird, I know. Franca Sozzani, the editor, gives me room and is extremely supportive. We worked together before Vogue Italia, when she wasn’t yet the editor, on another magazine called Lei. And then there was the men’s version, Per Lui. She really likes what I do and I am grateful."
Steven Meisel
"My favourites are the ones that allow me to say something: the black issue; the poking fun at celebrities one; the paparazzi thing; the mental institution one; the ones that I have a minute to think about; all the ones that are the most controversial in fact. But it’s not because they are controversial that I like them, but because they say a little more than just a beautiful woman in a beautiful dress. I love that too, but to try and say something is also my goal."
Steven Meisel
Meisel was trusted by Valentino, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, and Calvin Klein with repeated campaigns over the years. Fashion is now a massive global machine to which Meisel happens to hold a very important position.
"Fashion was much more open in the ’70s, and even in the ’80s, which is insane. Today, it’s totally closed down and worse than it has ever been."
Steven Meisel
He entered the fashion world and proved to be a rebel, an idealist and someone that had something to say. He fought racism, he fought against wars against pollution, against the craziness of makeovers and the wrong ideas that were created by fashion photography about beauty. He had a very clear idea of what beauty and glamour is to him and he promoted it.
His personality helped him a lot in order to be given the chance to get where he is but the talent was for sure there. Cause he is indeed a great artist.
"I think it’s like everything that you grow up with becomes part of your aesthetic eye. It’s not that I am consciously thinking about any of it. I guess it becomes part of who you are."
Steven Meisel
Sources:
https://www.vogue.com/contributor/steven-meisel
https://032c.com/who-is-steven-meisel/
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