The iconic French fashion house has tapped Hong Kong acclaimed film director—Wong Kar-wai—for the fifth chapter of its ongoing SELF project
Initiated by Saint Laurent’s creative director Anthony Vaccarello a year ago, the SELF series is a unique art project which brings creatives around the world to demonstrate the brand’s character through their own lenses, via different art forms such as exhibitions, films and events.
The project has already seen four remarkable collaborations with photographer Daido Moriyama, performance artist Vanessa Beecroft, screenwriter Bret Easton Ellis, as well as filmmaker Gaspar Noé.
For the long-awaited fifth instalment of SELF, Antony Vacarello has teamed up with the internationally renowned film director Wong Kar-wai and Hong Kong-based photographer Wing Shya. Like previous collaborations—SELF 05—which is known as a short film titled A Night In Shanghai, it continues to highlight the theme of self-expression, conveying Wong’s introspective exploration of Saint Laurent’s spirit.
“Saint Laurent is unique, distinctive among high fashion. Anthony loves art and his designs worn gorgeously, and stays independent. Saint Laurent is always about “breaking the balance” in this era, like no one else, the brand is brave in expressing itself,” says Wong Kar-wai, who is famed for filming fragmented and moody narratives.
See also: 7 Fashion Short Films To Binge Watch This Weekend
A Night In Shanghai stars Chinese model Ju Xiaowen, who’s trying to find the balance between the past and the present in her quest for identity. All her inner feelings, struggles are reflected in the backdrop where the mood of old Shanghai juxtaposes with contemporary Saint Laurent fashion in the film.
“Wong Kar Wai envisions individual feelings; his art is like a vivid dream projected into real life, which emphasizes the contrast between the fragile aspect of humanity and reality," says Anthony Vaccarello. "It was a very instinctive process based on mutual respect and admiration, in the movie you can find and feel the Saint Laurent fantasy taking shape as natural consequence."
The short film will be exclusively presented in an immersive screen-installation at Yuz Museum in Shanghai art district from November 22-24.
Watch the official trailer for "SELF 05: A Night In Shanghai" below: