Anthony Vaccarello, the creative director for French fashion house Saint Laurent has partnered with conceptual artist Doug Aitken on Green Lens, a monumental reflective structure.
Located on the island of Isola Della Certosa, Venice, the structure was the pièce de résistance of the Maison’s Spring Summer 2022 menswear collection.
Dubbed the Green Lens, the large-scale installation is covered entirely by mirrors. The surrounding foliage gets reflected by the surfaces, representing the perfect homogenisation of man-made structure and the natural world.
Upon entering the structure, visitors get to experience a kaleidoscopic space that reflects the landscape, sky, and immediate surroundings. Like most art installations, Green Lens was created to spark conversations. Aitken’s aim for this structure was to inspire discussion regarding the balance between the splendour of nature and the advancement of human society.
Green Lens is open to the public until the end of July. Inclusivity is at the core of this project, so it was important to Aitken that the installation be accessible to everyone. Green Lens is also a part of this year’s Biennale di Architettura, an International architecture exhibition held in Venice. This year’s theme is “How Will We Live Together?”, and Aitken’s introspective installation fits the theme perfectly.
Vaccarello has a soft spot for melding the arts and fashion. Being an art lover, he has in the past collaborated with various artists, citing them as sources of inspiration. His numerous art-fashion projects includes a collaboration with designer-turned-artist Helmut Lang for the Maison’s Rive Droite locations.
Earlier in May, he also partnered with South Korean visual artist, Jung Lee in creating an installation for the newly opened flagship store in Seoul. More than just fashion, Vaccarello envisions Saint Laurent to be all-encompassing — essentially a lifestyle that fans can join through purchasing the set of curated items.