Mert and Marcus Come to Phillips
By Tamara AkcayLondon auctioneers Phillips presents the first major exhibition of works by the dynamic photographer duo, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Since landing their first cover with Dazed & Confused in 1997, Mert and Marcus have had their distinctive and commanding images featured in influential magazines including Vogue, Interview, Vanity Fair and W as well as in campaigns for Christian Dior, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and more. As part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the photographers’ longstanding collaboration, eighteen of their works will be on sale for the first time. The landmark exhibition debuts at Phillips’ London headquarters in Mayfair before traveling to Paris.
Their union, initially romantic, eventually led to the pair developing their common interest in photography. They lived and socialised in London’s East End, visiting galleries with Alexander McQueen, and partying with stylist and fashion editor Katy England. Determinedly photographing throughout the 90s, based out of their Old Street loft, the duo developed a reputation for innovative image-making. For their earliest shoots, Mert and Marcus note that they did everything themselves, including styling, hair, makeup, and set design. Since meeting in 1994, the collaborators, who credit photographer Guy Bourdin as a seminal influence, have become well-known for photographing eminent supermodels and celebrities.
The pair have firmly established themselves as one of fashion’s most beloved double acts, joining the likes of photographer duos like Sean and Seng, and Inez and Vinoodh. Their discerning and continually advancing aesthetic makes them coveted among magazines and advertisers, who regularly offer the photographers unbridled freedom, a rare privilege the talented artists have earned over the years. “Our job is to create an identity for brands so people can relate to them,” Alas notes. “But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hold any artistic value within that process.”
Mert & Marcus: Works 2001-2014 at Phillips, 30 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6EX
24 October – 16 November 2016