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ART DIRECTOR & DESIGN Attilio Brancaccio EDITORS Agnese Roda Anna Kelhu FASHION DIRECTOR & STYLING Marie Claire Liem FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS Attilio Brancaccio Marjolein de Rijk Maurice van der Meijs Sergios Charalampos FEATURED MAKE-UP & HAIR STYLIST Milena Prieto
Charlotte Niketic THANKS TO: Blupixel.it ADVERTISING hoopdoop@hoopdoopmagazine.com
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contents
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P6 • INTO THE COSMOS • Cover Story
P58 • B BOYS • by Maurice van der Meijs
P22 • I.R.O.K • interview
P72 • THE ARISTOCRATS • fashion
P28 • METAL PERSUASION • fashion
P82 • SHOPPING BAG
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P36 • DREAMCATCHER • fashion P44• SERGIOS CHARALAMPOS • interview
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cover story
INTO THE
by: Anna Kelhu
Attilio Brancaccio is a photographer, entrepreneur and Art Director for Hoopdoop magazine. Here Attilio shares his thoughts about Man Ray, Amsterdam, and his latest photo series Cosmos and Brushed.
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ollowing your inspiration, being curios and unafraid of breaking the rules can be really interesting and give you unexpected, beautiful results.
How did you find photographing? I started taking pictures almost 10 years ago, just for fun, without any purpose of being or becoming a photographer. At that time I was working in an advertising agency (I studied Advertising and Communication) as a graphic designer and, around the same time, I was also playing in a band. As a band, we toured all over Italy and at times performed as an opening act for several international artists. One day I borrowed a digital camera from the agency and brought it along with me. Shooting live concerts was my first step into photography. After a year I bought my first digital reflex, but was still using photography mostly as a tool to capture live music moments and to get original images for my design artworks. I don’t really remember when something changed but, as my interest for photography was growing constantly, I started taking it seriously and first went back to analog. Shooting on film and working in the darkroom was great. It pushed me to study, analyze the mistakes I was doing, and develop my skills. Probably, it was on one of those days when I first thought about being a photographer. In 2006 I had my first assignment and started working mostly as a reportage photographer for events, clubs, and magazines. In 2008 I moved to Amsterdam. Here I had the opportunity to live in a Woning Atelier for artists, with a huge studio inside. Having a studio allowed me to explore portrait and fashion photography and define my own style. Your latest series of images, named Cosmos, boosts an association with the extraterrestrial, while also resembling early Earthly life forms. Is there a philosophy as to why
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you became to depict these forms at this point in your life - or was it merely a string of unconscious consecutive actions that led to the creation of the series? No philosophy. Inspired by the works of Man Ray, I spent months thinking about how to use rayograph or photogram in my own way. After several experiments with different materials and objects but without any acceptable results, I was almost giving up. I was lost. One afternoon I suddenly got up from my chair and went directly to the dark room. I took a small bottle of bubble soap I had bought a couple of months before, switched the light off and started blowing. When I saw an interesting composition I switched the light on, for 10 seconds, let’s say. During these 10 seconds, everything can happen, so you can’t be sure whether what you see when you turn the light back on is what you ‘re gonna see after the 10 seconds reproduced on the photo paper. I was so impressed by the first prints, I could’ve never expected something like it, so strong and detailed. The next step was trying to define the work process in order to have more control over the final result, even if this was something I couldn’t achieve totally. You can decide when and for how long keep the light on but in the end, you won’t never know what can happen during that split of time. This was such a great experience, in each image you could find something so unique but, at the same time, that something was connected to the other images. During the first session I spent 2 days in the darkroom, hardly stepping out. The whole project took me about one year and the final selection is composed of 10 prints. You named Man Ray as one major influence in your works. What is it about his collections and the Rayograph-method that set you off? Are there any other influences that have pushed you forward in your career, that have given you creative strength? When I discovered Man Ray and his works, I was immediately touched by his ability to create stunning and innovative images using simple objects and a light source. He used to say “Of
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course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask ‘how’, while others of a more curious nature will ask ‘why’. Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.” I totally agree with him. Following your inspiration, being curios and unafraid of breaking the rules can be really interesting and give you unexpected, beautiful results. Man Ray is not my only source of inspiration, though. Especially related to portrait and fashion photography, I love and have been inspired by photographers such as Richard Avedon, Albert Watson, David Lachapelle and, lately, Seth Sabal. Brushed is an interesting collection of portraits, which have been reworked into paintwork-types of frames. Tell us a bit about how you produced these images. “Brushed” is composed by a series of BW pictures I’ve taken in a studio on film. The images were produced by spreading the developer chemical solution by brush instead of immersing the photographic paper into it. Following the same mood that brought me to realize “Cosmos”, I started with photography and tried to turn it into another artistic shape. Is there anything in particular that fascinates you about the human form? Humans fascinate me in so many ways. By this I don’t mean only the body shapes but also behaviors, how they look like.. I like people, and people are one of my major sources of inspiration. I’m not such a good speaker but I am a good watcher. I spent most of my life on the streets, traveling and meeting people. I do love to watch how people interact in different kinds of environments, how they dress and act. All my photography production is inspired by everything from around me. What are you working on right now? At the moment I am still working on the “Brushed” series, which is not done yet, and lately I’ve also gone back to rayograph. I’m working on a new project mostly focused on character designs, but it is still at the beginning so it’s bit early to talk about that. Coming from Italy, how did you end up in
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Amsterdam? What do you think of the cultural and art scene here? I arrived here in 2008 and, as I mentioned before, had the opportunity to live in a space made and thought of for artists. In Holland much more attention is given to arts and culture in general. Having a place where you can live and work at the same time helped me a lot in finding my own style and artistic view. Amsterdam isn’t a big city, but here you can meet people from all over the world with different stories and backgrounds and of course, this is also another great source of inspiration for my works and life. If I had to find a downside, I was expecting a bigger underground scene - not only related to art but in general. However, Amsterdam is a really cool city! www.the-t.it
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I.r.o.k Intergalactic Republic of Kongo
HOOPDOOP met up with UK-based afro-punk band I.R.O.K. They had a few things to say about musical expression, freedom, and today’s society... read on. Interview by: Anna Kelhu
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s everything not absurd? I can’t walk down the street to catch a tube train without thinking that everything is totally and utterly unreal
Tell us a bit about how I.R.O.K. came together. I.R.O.K. hit me with the same feeling as coming up on drugs. It was at a time when I was escaping and I was totally free. I was being the most spontaneous I could be. One saturday afternoon, I was leaving a place in Southern Morocco and heading away somewhere quiet by the beach when I heard music and chanting and started following a crowd. I thought I was going to a festival or a wedding but I realized very quickly by the hands in pockets and intent that I was going to a football match. I could have been walking up Tottenham High street, there was no difference. I started talking to some boys and they ended up helping me get in to the stadium easily. They were part of the crew chanting on megaphones and leading the songs. There were drums everywhere. Smoke, explosions, singing, high pitched reed instruments and an expression of anti-authority I’ve never seen in Morocco anywhere on the street. I was in it all, going crazy, and then it hit me that I was going to go home and recreate this chaos in songs. The moment became bigger than me in an instant. It felt as if the moment chose me. It was not considered. It was something else. I felt a spirit...a calling. You recently confessed you actually love a bit of Phil Collins.. ;) Any other influences you’d like to mention? I totally disagree with his political Conservatism but how can you not like Phil Collins as an artist? He drummed and sang in arguably the most incredible band to come out of the U.K, in Genesis, who never stopped evolving. He defined in many ways a whole era with his music in the 80s and inadevertantly helped define the production of hip hop music to this day. One great thing about him is he had the decency to fuck off when he realised it was all over for him. Maybe the best thing about Phil Collins though is that we live
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in such a time where everything is cynical and snipey and ironic and he was actually sincere but good. Most sincere stuff now is dogshit. I.R.O.K. is short for The Intergalactic Republic of Kongo. What is the association you’re hoping to create in people’s minds? Are you taking a stand or just going for the absurd? Is everything not absurd? I can’t walk down the street to catch a tube train without thinking that everything is totally and utterly unreal. The fact that we go about distracting ourselves from the fact that absolutely nobody knows what we are doing here and what is going on. Science, religion, politics... it’s all absurd and proved to be bullshit time and time again, and we still cling on to it because everyone is scared. That’s normal but I’ve noticed that we are being clamped down on and encroached. We should be allowed to meet and dance and scream and shout and reach other states of consciousness whenever we want. I don’t want to go home at 2am. I don’t want security guards or security barriers. All these things will be burned. Humans need to let go. Acid House was the last time it happened. All the other revolutions in music have been false as it was an industry. Especially grunge which was just about selling records and not changing your clothes very often. Acid House changed the way that humans acted towards each other and was truly an alternative to proscribed ‘fun’. The Intergalactic Republic of Kongo puts on shows like no other band I have seen out there right now. Where if you join in with us you become part of something bigger. Where you can totally transcend in the moment. You have to take part in the ceremony to understand. To quote, “I.R.O.K. is the state where we meet in sweat, blood and joy”. Can you open this up for us a little? That’s what I’m talking about. Just Let Go. Cut loose, rid yourself of fear, express your demons, your joys, your love. Then rise above these feelings and become ‘The Moment’. You have to bear witness at a show. In fact you must do more than witness it. We are moving people already. They are already writing to me asking for our return to their cities. It’s different. What are your future ambitions – where is
I.R.O.K. headed? I.R.O.K. has it’s own energy but who knows where anyone is headed and for how long. I live day by day. I don’t even know what I’m doing this evening. I’m looking forward to the 15th December when we are inviting people to join us in smoke and mirrors at Visions in London, and then we travel back to Morocco to get away from everything in January. To escape the cold and the depressed human condition. We will go back in time 1000 years but with keyboards and stuff and do some writing and smoke some hash and get free. Life is there to do as you wish and to be as absurd as you choose. It all starts to make more sense that way. You should smile at strangers more. It’s good for you. www.facebook.com/weareirok
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“ That’s what I’m talking about. Just Let Go. Cut loose, rid yourself of fear, express your demons, your joys, your love. ” I.r.o.k
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METAL PERSUASION Photography: Attilio Brancaccio Styling: Marie Claire Liem Hair & make up: Milena Prieto Model: Rabia Soraya Omanette Texture design: Marie Claire Liem
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Blazer: Sanne Haselager Jumpsuit: Sanne Haselager Shoes: Sanne Haselager
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Top with metal details: Sanne Haselager Trousers: Sanne Haselager Shoes: Sanne Haselager
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Dreamcatcher bymarjoleinde rijk Photography: Marjolein de Rijk Styling: Xavier Long Hair & make up: Charlotte Niketic Model: Nick van de Ven
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Indian head ornament: Likhit Sangsamutht
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Feathered vest grey: owner’s item Silver necklace with stone emblem: owner’s item Woolen bolero navy blue with white stripes: Marc Amel Corduroy pants kaki: Lee Leather husky boots brown with side strap: Giorgio Shoes
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Leather coat brown with woolen lining: owner’s item Corduroy pants brown red : daughters
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Sweater knitwear brown: Samsoe & Samsoe Leatherjacket brown with golden zipper: Goosecraft Corduroy pants dark brown: daughters
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Shirt beige with blue sleeves: Mexx Leather waistcoat: owner’s item Horn accesoiry: owner’s item Corduroy pants brown : River Island Boots dark brown: Gaastra footwear
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Leatherjacket grey with 2 breastpockets: Wrangler Stonenecklace: owner’s item Leatherglove baseball style: owner’s item
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Leatherjacket dark brown with woolen lining: Cottonfield Shawl dark brown hair: Cottonfield Corduroy pants brown: River Island Leather boots bordeaux woollen lining: Dolfie
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HoopDoop meets
sergios Charalampos Interview by: Woody
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t the beginning, I played around with still life and ICM but something didn’t feel right.
When and how did you start taking pictures? Back in the summer of 2010, a good friend (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7374277@ N03/) bought a digital SLR and invited me over to take a look. That was the first time I actually used a camera - love at first sight. A couple of weeks later I bought one. Why do you work with long exposure and what has motivated your artistic choice? At the beginning, I played around with still life and ICM but something didn’t feel right. One day, I came across Joel Tjintjelaar, an international award-winning B&W fine art Dutch photographer, and immediately decided to give it a shot. I have been experimenting with long exposures and neutral density applications since. By the way, I was honored to interview Joel; have a look (http://www.iamexpat.nl/read-anddiscuss/lifestyle/interviews/interview-with-joeltjintjelaar) and definitely visit his Flickr account (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjintjelaar/)! How do you choose your subjects? In a way, I don’t. I work 24/7 for my website, IamExpat.nl (http://www.iamexpat.nl/) and I cannot afford to spend too much time traveling around. However, I always look around for new subjects when on the move and of course, follow all those great photographers out there. Also, I recently discovered this cool application UAR (http:// en.nai.nl/exhibitions/3d_architecture_app) by NAI (Netherlands Architecture Institute) that provides information about the built environment in major cities. Who is / are your favorite photographer(s)? Let’s just say that there are many great photographers out there. Apart from Joel Tjintjelaar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjintjelaar/), some of my personal favs are:
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- Giles McGarry (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ gilesmcgarry/) - Jeff Vyse (http://www.jeffvyse.co.uk/) - Michael Diblicek (http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_diblicek/) - Andy Brown (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ mrbuk1/) - Gavin Dunbar (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ gavindunbar/) - Jeff Gaydash (http://jeffgaydash.com/) - Maria Stromvik (http://www.mariastromvik. eu/) - Thomas Leong (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ soulfly7/) - Albert Tam (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ superboo/) - Johanna Blankenstein (http://www.flickr.com/ photos/joblankenstein/) - Kees Smans (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ keessmans/) What are you currently working on? I recently launched my personal collection, Photographi.co , and set up a Tumblr account . I also want to invest some time to understand how the market (events, collaborations, galleries etc.) works and how to proceed during the winter - the weather in the Netherlands kind of s*&%s and my Nikon is not waterproof. http://photographi.co http://photographico.tumblr.com
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LOTTAROX AGENCY is a professional booking, event and promotion company based in London (UK), Florence (Italy) and Stockholm (Sweden) whose first aim is to introduce the best emergent and unsigned UK artists to the Italian Indie Market by booking the best Club Nights, In-Store shows and Exhibitions of the various countries it works in, soon in Amsterdam as well.
check out the roster and the info here :
www.lottarox.com
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B BOYS BY MAURICE VAN DER MEIJS for World B boy Classic
www.mauricevandermeijs.com
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eten met kwaliteit
www.iLekker.nl 70
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NOBLESSE oblige Photography: Attilio Brancaccio Styling: Marie Claire Liem Hair & make up: Milena Prieto Model: Rabia Soraya Omanette
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Jumpsuit black: Ilja visser Sandals: United nude
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Top: Claes Iversen Short black suede: One Teaspoon Hat: Nikki Liem Silver leather shoes: Iris van Herpen for United nude Socks: Forever21
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Ivory dress: Dimitry Frenko Krul Accessorize hair: Marga Weimans Silver leather shoes: Iris van Herpen for United nude Socks: Forever21
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Top black lace: H&M Dress: Sanne Haselager Short nude: Forever21 Hat: Nikki Liem Boots: Sanne Haselager
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Denim jacket: Ready2wear Ilja Visser Short nude chiffon: One Teapsoon Bow-tie: Stylist’s own Hat: Nikki Liem Shoes white: Sanne Haselage
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