October 26, 2015
STILL BY FELIX FOREST + CLAIRE DELMAR
Photographer Felix Forest has joined with stylist Claire Delmar to create a limited-edition series of photographic works based on his interest in 17th century Flemish still lifes by the likes of Vermeer.
Author and curator Karen McCartney [interview] will open the exhibition at Puddleduck 11 Roslyn Gardens, Elizabeth Bay.
The show will move to Becker Minty at 7/81 Macleay Street, Potts Point on Saturday 31 October.
The original interview with Felix Forest appeared on 1 May 2015 and with Claire Delmar on 23 February 2011.
Their interviews are reproduced below.
[Noteworthy updates this week while Daily Imprint is away on leave.]
[Noteworthy updates this week while Daily Imprint is away on leave.]
PHOTOGRAPHER FELIX FOREST
Which five words best describe you? Impatient in the long term but patient in the short term, perfectionist, curious, moody but mostly calm, and very loyal until pushed too far.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I had a collection of images and naively thought that I should go to some agencies. I thought I needed an agent but unfortunately the agents didn’t think the same. The first agent I saw told me they couldn’t see any commercial potential in my images and that I should be an artist. I’m still unsure what they meant exactly but I took it with optimism and as a challenge and six months later signed with that same agent. It didn’t help, if anything it made me lazy for some time. I was always very pro-active in looking for work and researching, thinking about concepts and prospecting. My first story was a house shoot that I submitted to a magazine and they ended up running it as a cover story. I was so excited and I took it as a sign that I should persevere and keep working hard. I was so pushy and stubborn at the time and would never take “no” for an answer, when I think about it I think that my interlocutors at the time must have thought, “That French man is so pushy, so typical!” It makes me laugh.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Work hard, be fair, be curious, stick to your convictions and don’t make precedents that you are not happy to keep going with.
What’s your proudest career achievement? There isn’t one specific one, rather achievements that mean different things along the way, and it also has to do with timing. Something can happen when you are quiet and not shooting much and even though it is a small job it will pump you right back up. It’s relative.
What’s been your best decision? To always assume my decisions. It doesn’t mean to not question them though.
Who inspires you? Every single detail in Nature. Edwina Robinson, my fiancee - I think if I had half her qualities I would be half decent. The streets of old cities. People with convictions.
What are you passionate about? Apart from photography, food; wine; art; Olympique Lyonnais; design whether interiors, furniture, fashion; golf; music.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Voltaire, Michael Jackson and I’d like to have spent more time with some family members, but I am mostly satisfied with people I know; I’m very lucky. I’d also be curious to meet myself had I chose to go down the finance path.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? So many but as far as photography goes I would like to one day be satisfied with one photograph I create for an extended period of time, and that is what I work towards knowing that it probably won’t happen. I’d like to blossom in other creative endeavours and am currently working on other projects.
What are you reading? Daily Imprint! Being curious and impatient I start reading many things at the same time and then mix them all together, that, coupled with a leniency towards amnesia mean that I could be reading the same books my whole life and they would always feel new and reinterpreted. I always have a copy of The Little Prince somewhere in the house as well as many, many photographic, art and architecture books and magazines.
STYLIST CLAIRE DELMAR
Which five words best describe you? Oh this is always hard! Big eater/food lover, yoga enthusiast, organised, focused, energetic.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I started in the fashion industry doing work experience at marie claire magazine whilst I was completing a Bachelor of Media. After completing my degree I worked in Public Relations and then became a Fashion Editor. After a few years I realised that my passion was interiors. I got offered some freelance work styling interiors for a local publishing house and haven't turned back. I now also do food styling.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don't ever give up, especially when sourcing - there is always a way or a solution.
What’s your proudest career achievement? I'm hoping it's just around the corner! But saying that enjoying what I do everyday I feel is the best achievement one can wish for.
What’s been your best decision? To take every opportunity that comes to me, travel as much as possible and to start a family.
Who inspires you? I get inspiration more from my surroundings than specific people. However, I love the work of James Merrell, Van der Meersch & Weston, Abi Boura and Faye Toogood.
What are you passionate about? The importance of yoga and the positive effects it has not only on your body but on your mind. Especially as I work in a creative field I need that time to switch off. I really feel it helps the way I look at the rest of my life.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Can I say two? Charles or Ray Eames and Heston Blumenthal.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would like to style a book, open a cafe, a yoga school, style a hotel... the list goes on and on.
What are you reading? I'm flipping between Unless by Carol Shields and The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Botton.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don't ever give up, especially when sourcing - there is always a way or a solution.
What’s your proudest career achievement? I'm hoping it's just around the corner! But saying that enjoying what I do everyday I feel is the best achievement one can wish for.
What’s been your best decision? To take every opportunity that comes to me, travel as much as possible and to start a family.
Who inspires you? I get inspiration more from my surroundings than specific people. However, I love the work of James Merrell, Van der Meersch & Weston, Abi Boura and Faye Toogood.
What are you passionate about? The importance of yoga and the positive effects it has not only on your body but on your mind. Especially as I work in a creative field I need that time to switch off. I really feel it helps the way I look at the rest of my life.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Can I say two? Charles or Ray Eames and Heston Blumenthal.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? I would like to style a book, open a cafe, a yoga school, style a hotel... the list goes on and on.
What are you reading? I'm flipping between Unless by Carol Shields and The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Botton.
images courtesy of felix forest, claire delmar and becker minty