Anthony Vaccarello's vision for Saint Laurent has always included more than mere clothing. From homeware to tchotchkes, the luxury maison's output now encompasses all aspects of elegant living. Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2022 promises to further these opulent aims, incorporating an enormous artwork into the island setting of its latest runway show.
Vaccarello and Saint Laurent commissioned multimedia artist Doug Aitken has created the immense Green Lens to accompany the house's SS22 show. Described by Saint Laurent as both a destination and "a living experiential artwork," the stark, angular Green Lens is set in a garden within Isola della Certosa, an island in Italy's Venetian lagoon — yes, it's as picturesque as it sounds. One only needs to watch the runway below for proof.
Green Lens' enormous glassy panels reflect the immediate environment and plants, standing as an inorganic paean to natural beauty. Though Green Lens will debut as part of the runway show, with models strolling around the large piece, the immersive installation is scheduled to host a series of events during the entire month of July, representing Saint Laurent's big picture persepective.
Indeed, Green Lens is as eco-conscious as its name implies, as Saint Laurent will offset all greenhouse gas emissions related to the work by funding a reforestation program centered around the Isola della Certosa garden that surrounds Aitken's work. Further, Saint Laurent will replant nearby flora and donate additional plantlife as part of a local restructuring initiative, simultaneously rebuilding a damaged wall in neighboring island Certosa.
"Green Lens is a living artwork," Aitken said in a statement. "It is both an artwork, installation, and stage. It’s like a lighthouse, that one can journey to and have a very personal experience, while it also transmits light, ideas, and questions. A focal point that allows all of us to share our ideas and visions for the future post-COVID-19... a celebration and inquiry into the future."
"Saint Laurent’s cult iconography always combined creative disciplines across art and fashion," Vaccarello continued. "Through those collaborations, I want to merge different fields’ artistic visions in a unique artwork."
