THINGS WE LOVE: HEDI SLIMANE

Hedi Slimane, in conjunction with Commonwealth Projects has presented this beautiful documentation of Hedi Slimane’s California Song. The self-commissioned video project was filmed over the course of the exhibition’s opening week. It includes footage of the opening night, No Age’s rehearsal for their performance, billboards featuring Hedi’s photographs across LA, and the artwork in the show. The film includes the same original No Age soundtrack as featured in the installation at MOCA Pacific Design Center.

California Song displays Slimane’s experience in the state exploring its urban youth culture and artistic communities. Of California, Slimane found somewhat of a muse. “It is just about alignments really, and everything falls into place right now,” he has said about Los Angeles. “There is also the space for everyone, the distance to elaborate. It certainly had a big influence on me.”

There’s no question that Hedi Slimane has deserved his reputation as the “single most influential men’s designer this century, the most copied of his peers and the only to achieve the status of a rock star.” (Fashion Wire Daily)

Hedi Slimane stepped down as artistic director at Dior Homme in 2007, when he was seemingly at the peak of his career.  However, his legacy at Dior has ensured that generations of men are still influenced by his trademark super-tight, rock ’n’ roll silhouette.

Slimane continues to create (you can see his photographs in diary form on one of his personal sites), and can do no wrong. This, his first solo exhibition in a museum, has received wide critical acclaim and unlike many notable rock stars, his reign continues with no sign of fading away.

California Song is its last days, so hurry to the MOCA before the 22^nd of January, 2012 to experience Hedi Slimane’s beautiful, multimedia show.

Hedi Slimane California Song from Commonwealth Projects on Vimeo.