Szputnyik shop invites every fashion and photography lover to an unusual time-travel in the name of slow fashion. Between 29 September and 17 October, a temporary exhibition showcases a collection of artwork from Zsófia Heisler and Marcell Krulik that stresses the hidden value, the uniqueness and the quality of vintage clothing.
Where did the idea to bring this exhibition to life come from?
Ingrid: To us, collecting vintage clothes and accessories is more than killing time. It allows us to hold on to and value history, culture and fashion. We had planned to organise an exhibition for a long time where the beauty of vintage style plays a central role.
Zsófi: When Ingrid Szekeres, one of Szputnyik's director contacted me with the idea, I said yes straight away. I got hooked on the concept. The only question was how to visualise the timeless aspect of vintage clothes and accessories in the most expressive way.
What is the connection between the exhibition and the Design Week Budapest 2012 event series?
Ingrid: This year, Design Week is about economic, social and cultural sustainability with the Slow Movement in focus. It advocates thoughtful consumption, ultimately leading to a cultural shift towards slowing down life's pace and resulting in a better quality of life. Its trends are inseparable, which also applies to Slow Fashion. The connection was given since vintage clothing with its long-lasting materials, and high-quality finish is a manifestation of the movement.
How did the team form?
Zsófi: I thought that it would be a great idea if an up-and-coming contemporary photographer would take shots capturing scenes in the present and as such, reflect on and confront my images set in the past. This is how Marcell Krulik's name came up. Mark Kiss stylist and the two hairdressers David Ehrlich and Zsanett Fábian joined us by the invitation of Szputnyik. The make-up artists Doris Szabó and Laura Tégely, and the models are my friends who also thought that the concept was exciting.
Marci: Besides the professional work relationship with Zsófi, we are also friends, so when the idea of the exhibition came up, I happily said yes to the opportunity. We were thinking along the same lines from the start, so the production went smooth.
What inspired the Timeless exhibition?
Zsófi: I was inspired by the love story of Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart and the mood of that era. I aimed to choose a strong woman who was both successful and a famously excellent mother and wife at the same time.
Marci: I was to show how these vintage pieces live on today and also capture the models stepping out from the replicated past to the moment of now. Through its mission to retrieve clothes from the past decades to the 21st century, Szputnyik performs value preservation. This is something I wanted to document.
Why did you choose a mix of analog and digital photography to create these pictures?
Zsófi: I prefer to shoot on medium format roll film. I used this format the most since the start of my career. I think for me this is the best way to capture the world.
Marci: I use both analog and digital techniques in my work. I tend to choose the one that allows me to interpret the subject better. This time I felt that going with digital was the right choice. It also provides an exciting contrast to Zsófi's analog imagery.
