Interview with Eleanor Hardwick

Eleanor Hardwick is one of the most talented photographers of her generation. Based in the UK, Eleanor has shot for publications like Harper's Bazaar and Dazed & Confused. She is also a staff photographer at the awesome teen online mag, Rookie. I had the pleasure of meeting Eleanor when she was over in NYC over in the year. We are collaborating on a shoot when I am in England this summer. Enjoy my interview with her below, and be sure to check out more of her work here: www.eleanorhardwick.com

Tell me a little bit about yourself, what you do, and your photography.

When I was twelve, I decided to pick up a camera and upload the pictures to flickr.com. My passion grew from there, and when I was fifteen, The Independent and Dazed & Confused asked to interview me. The press recognition led on to interest from commercial clients. I’m now eighteen years old and work full time whilst living in the British countryside that is the backdrop for most of my work.

As a teenager, I think it’s important for my work to be about what I know best, which is being a teenager. Adolescence is fascinating… it’s like the limbo between being a child and an adult. It seems to last forever but then you find yourself looking back wondering where your childhood went. My pictures often question this unsure time, where you’re working out what you want to be when you grow up... whether you even want to grow up at all. I study a lot of cultural, historic and literary references in my work too. I love to plan things out in immense detail, which is why I never stop working and doing what I love.
I think Tavi and I have become very close online. That’s what’s great for young artists nowadays… the internet has become an great platform for teenagers to have a voice. I am so happy that work that is ABOUT and FOR teenagers can be BY the teenagers themselves, and be recognized. Rookie involves both the readers and really experienced writers, so it’s the best of both worlds. I feel like it really one of the best magazines for teenagers at the moment because Tavi one hundred percent understands what young girls want to read about, and lets readers get just as involved as the staff do.
My favourite artists would have to be Yayoi Kusama, Dasha Shishkin, Henry Darger, Pipilotti Rist, Abigail Portnet, Gustav Klimt, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali and Alan Aldridge.
My list of favourite photographers is much too long, but I’ll always be a massive fan of anything by Tim Walker, Ryan Mcginley, Venetia Scott, Saga Sig, Lukasz Wierzbowski and Lina Scheynius. There are so many incredibly talented young photographers emerging online too: Petra Collins, Erica Segovia, Lauren Poor and Mike Bailey Gates.

Tell me about your most recent shoots and your work for Rookie Mag. .

I work alongside Rookie Magazine every month, it is so much fun to work for and the briefs each month are so inspiring. 

I’ve also been very busy recently working on my collaborative exhibition with Mirren Kessling, which will be at the Modern Artists’ Gallery in Oxfordshire later this year. Mirren is another incredibly inspirational teenager, check out her illustration work if you don’t know it already. We work on lots of mixed media projects together, and she also makes a lot of the props for my shoots for Rookie.

What is your most favorite shoot you have done so far?

That is such a hard question! My photographs are my babies, I couldn’t pick out a favorite.

Do you have any dream shoots or ideas that you'd love to work on?

I would love to do a fashion shoot in India. I went on holiday there last winter and I think it is the most beautiful place in the world.

What are your favorite magazines, blogs, books and films for fashion?

Lula and Rookie magazine are my bibles. I’ve been buying a lot of exhibition books lately for inspiration: Yayoi Kusama, Cindy Sherman, Henry Darger… Films are always an inspiration too. For me it would be aything by Sofia Coppola, Michel Gondry, Terry Gilliam, Harmony Korine, Miranda July, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Shane Meadows, David Lynch…

How was it being featured on Monki TV?

It was the best interview I’ve ever done! I’d never done any video interviews before so I was kind of nervous, but I got so into it and had so much fun hanging out with the crew and showing them all of my favourite things.

If you could photograph any celebrity or model, who would it be?

Lindsey Wixson, Daphne Groeneveld or Iekeliene Stange.

What publication would you love to see your photos in?

Lula or Vogue.

Who is your style icon?

The Banjara tribe in India. Or Strawberry Switchblade!

Who are your favorite designers, artists, and other photographers?

My favourite designers are Meadham Kirchhoff, I love every collection they’ve ever done. Also Comme des Garcons and Luella (R.I.P.)

What is on your summer fashion wish list?

Sunny weather, adventures with friends, and Christopher Kane’s Spring 2012 collection.

What can you see yourself buying from Audrey Grace?

Too many pretty dresses! I’m after a really beautiful silk and lace slip at the moment.

All photos courtesy of Eleanor.

Emily Harper for Audrey Grace

Emily Harper is a very talented artist based out of UK. She created a series of portraits for me- based on Louis Vuitton SS12, past Lula editorials, Tim Walker, and Vogue Italia editorials. The results are beautiful, and they will be available for purchase exclusively in the Audrey Grace online shop, when it launches on June 18th!

Thank you so much Emily!!

Interview with Hiro of Union Magazine

A couple of weeks ago, Hiro, the creative director and editor of Union Magazine in Tokyo, contacted me about stocking Union in Audrey Grace. After seeing the magazine, it seemed like a perfect fit! The first issue is filled with beautiful editorials, insightful interviews and amazing photography. It reminds me of a Japanese version of Lula. Hiro is a successful stylist himself, having previously assisted the editor in chief of Lula, Leith Clark. He edits the magazine alongside his friend and fellow stylist, the editor in chief, Chiharu Dodo. The pair seems like a dream team. In an interview, they mentioned that it took them six years to come up with the concept and six months to produce. The first issues features the work of Claire Shilland, Marie-Fleur Charlesworth, Marie Hochhaus, Katy Lassen, and the two editors themselves, among others. Union will be exclusively stocked at the Audrey Grace online shop which is launching mid-June. I believe we are the only US stockist of Union! If you can't wait to buy one, email me (jaxybeth@gmail.com) and I will sell you a copy! Enjoy my interview with Hiro below.

Tell me about your magazine. 

It’s simply about creating a beautiful magazine which is full of what we love. ‘Timelessness’ is a key word for the magazine and I always keep that in my head. What’s beautiful is always timeless. It transcends time, gender and national boundaries. Beautiful things made a long time ago but don’t necessarily look old-fashioned. We wanted to produce something which has that quality. Every time we think about images, pictures, layout and content, we always try to go back to our starting point and see if our material is made in our original Union way.

What do you love about living in Tokyo? What are your favorite shops and cafes?

Tokyo is quite convenient for shopping, there are so many clothes shops, and book stores.

I recommend DAIKANYAMA TSUTAYA BOOKS. It is very new huge book store, they have many vintage fashion magazine, and photography books as well. It is great inspiration for me. 

How did the idea for union come about? How did you find all of the photographers, 

I came to the idea by myself. But sometimes I can find ideas from photographs, romance, dreaming, and fragile things. Basically for the magazine, I always thinking about who would be the best  photographer for the editorial, so when I am impressed by a photograph I always remember the name of the photographer.

What are the plans for the second issue?

 I think there are still so many young, talented photographers and artists of the world, I want to find them. I have to introduce these talents through Union, and also use famous photographers.

Who is your favorite designer?

Miuccia Prada.

Where do you find inspiration?

My inspiration comes from romantic things, for example Franz Lisz's & Chopin's piano music, Leos Carax's movies, beautiful nature, people, the city, novels, travelling, etc..

What are your favorite films for fashion?

Les Amants du Pont-Neu by Leos Carax. 

What does the future look like for you? 

I'd like everyone to read Union. Then my life style would change. I would love to spend three months in NY, three months in London, and six months in Tokyo. I'd like to see more talented artists and travel the world. Union is not for money, it's for creation.

All photographs, from Union. 

Moonrise Kingdom

Is everyone as excited about this film as I am? I love Wes Anderson, and the amazing actors in this film- Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, etc. The plot and 1960s setting add to the excitement! The costumes look amazing- bright peter pan collared dresses, capes, and boy scout uniforms! Expect more interviews, photo shoots and details about the Audrey Grace, online shop soon which is launching this summer! I am working on so many projects at the moment.

Collaboration with Market Publique!

Today my collaboration with Market Publique launched. If you are not familiar with Market Publique, it's an online vintage marketplace and you can check it out and shop the Audrey Grace collection here. I met one of the owners of the site, the lovely Pamela, at the opening of my NYC pop up shop. We immediately bonded over my collection of girly vintage frocks and set up a collaboration. You can basically buy a variety of Audrey Grace's vintage pieces over on the site. I am selling everything from 1950s pastel prom dresses to 1920s drop waist party dresses. I hope you do pop over to the site and check it out, this collaboration has been super special! A very special thank you to Pamela who set this up and took the cute photos of the dresses.

On the poster below, which dress is your favorite?