Fake Plastic Flowers  (2012)

I created this art work based on Jeff Koons ceramic flowers. Making it appear like a magazine cover
with inserted ‘fashion’ images from costume stores in order to reflect three things:

1) Banality

2) Globalisation

3) Americanisation

or rather

the appreciation of American culture from 3rd world cultures.

What do you think? Did I make a mark?

I tend to have this habit where I’m privy to review fashion shows months after their presentation. Holding myself back from entering into a verbose acknowledgement  of today’s cliched culture of ‘instant’ fashion – just like my coffee, I prefer a good roast.

I like to take my time, allowing it to simmer and filter  through, so not only can  I  give it my full attention and enjoy it for what its worth.

Upon first inspection I wasn’t taken with Alexander Wang’s debut presentation , and I’ll even admit to having thrown wind at the designer’s efforts. Probably I was still upset about Ghesquiere’s departure and the absence of futurism and avant garde collector’s items I avidly enjoyed. It has taken a while for me to go back and look at what the talented Mr. Wang brought to the fashion house, and I have to say with my tail between my legs, I’ve fallen for what his freshman display. (Apologies Alexander for my previous disdain)

Trickling into my subconscious it took a second glance for me to realize that the spectacular inception of Wang’s masterpiece came down to the marble landscape. Women here were elegant ruins and some could even say sexy in the least conscious way. All the marble though got me thinking would it soon sweep the landscape on planet fashion come 2014? If so, Wang’s promising start could very well be applauded, not just a clap, but very well even an encore.

Ahmad Swaid

Nirvana Logo x Jean-Honoré Fragonard,  Les Hasards Heureux de l’Escarpolette, 1767

BALENCIAGA rolls out their global Pre-Fall 2014 campaign in exotic and obscure locations from Beirut, Lebanon to Paris, Texas, U.S.A. The collection inspired by spaghetti westerns and futurism debut online in January. Fronted by model Raquel Zimmermann who optioned the entire line in short video series, filmed by legendary fashion photographers, Inez & Vinoodh, that were released daily to subscribed users, fashion journalists and the press. The campaign however doesn’t allocate either model or the clothes created, instead Nicholas Ghesquiere, the creative director and designer of the brand optioned for a vintage portrait of Frankie Avalon, a national American film star during the 1960s, as the advertising image to front the pre-fall line. While it may be unorthodox to take on a campaign that doesn’t feature the brand’s line at all, but instead casual attire that reflect the inspiration behind the pre-fall collection, the BALENCIAGA brand has always been a front-runner to the avant-garde, and it is a strategy that just might work. What’s also radical, is the use of a male portrait
that is set to objectify the women’s line, when asked about this, the house responded that the “…campaign isn’t intended to reflect the gender of the women’s brand but the co-erce and communicate a visual aesthetic for the least”. The below images include the official posters for release and their fixture amongst BALENCIAGA’s more renowned locations such as London, New York and its official flagship in Paris, France.

In support of this campaign the house debuts a limited edition fragrance, COWBOY PARTY, inspired by
eau du hommes scents and the Southern states, that includes a bouquet of licorice and tobacco.

Japanese Artist, Sorayma has built replicated statues of her famous ‘Gynoid’ to be featured exclusively in the Balenciaga section of London’s Selfridges department store to showcase the women’s line accessories.

The young child arrives in Bounty Bay to spend a weekend with his estranged mother. Her maternal instinct in revision as he spends his time building sandcastles.

After discovering her son’s lack of respect for her she contemplates taking a more maternal and compassionate approach to their weekend together.

She soon learns her son becoming suspicious of her carefully concealed secret as a mysterious game of Tarot cards throws her off balance.

She decides to take him out of the house and for a walk amongst the rocky cliffs at bay. Only to soon later learn, he may as well be harbouring a secret of his own.

Their time spent together calls for a family portrait of the two, one in which an uncomfortable silence dims upon their respective concealed assignments.

Upon learning of her young child’s hidden truth, she comforts him and in shock tells him of her own.

She runs out into the shadow of the evening as the grand finale with a cinematic score follows en suit. Her secret’s out. She can live freely once again.

(Original Image, Alex White’s ‘Hello Pretty Dresses’, W Magazine 2010)

I love what Joan Smalls is wearing for the recent Prabal Gurung campaign. His collections make him the ‘sexy-est’ designer since Halston! Is it just me or does anyone else get that 70′s Studio 54 vibe? – Ahmad

I’m so excited with a capital E about being an online contributor for Garage Magazine. I can’t explain how much this means to me and how crazy it is to have my name featured on their website. Two years ago when I was living in Sierra Leone, I had to have a friend in London buy me the first issue and literally turn page by page of the magazine via Skype. I was in absolute awe and from that moment on I knew in my heart I had to work with them for them some way some how. Its been two years since then (Cringe Moment Ahead) , and not to reiterate the opening monologue of Sex & The City 2, but a lot can change since then. Returning to London six months ago, I started building up my Fashion resume working for several of the best magazines including Wonderland and Rankin’s Hunger and I can proudly say I am now working for Garage Magazine as an online contributor with these fashion formula’s and  also as a temporary fashion assistant. The thing is this, its really crazy where life takes you, and apologies if I’m getting all cringe and starting to sound like a guest on Ricki Lake or a contestant on America’s Next Top Model but while these Fashion Formula’s serve a purpose for quirky fashion fun, they are evidence of where talent, hard-work, determination and a little luck can take you! I hope all you kids enjoy them, you can catch them bi-weekly here on Garage Magazine. Dude, I feel like such a Rock Star! Watch This Space! – Ahmad

No one rocks a cover like Linda Evangelista does! Especially when photographed
by legendary Steven Meisel! Here for the July 2005 issue, Vogue Italia
makes the after effects of plastic surgery look unceremoniously glamorous beyond belief.
Blurring the lines between the hyperbole of editorial imagination and realism.
Either way, its cinema personified into the tablet of a magazine cover – the word ‘sublime’
comes to mind! – Ahmad