Solus Vol. I. Concerning Atypical Beauty and Youth – Pieter Hugo

In Solus Vol. I, Pieter Hugo reflects on the values that constitute the fashion industry’s shifting aesthetic through a series of straight forward portraits of street-cast models.

Hugo found himself captivated by sitters with unconventional and atypical looks, particularly before they underwent fashion’s machinations of wardrobe, makeup and hair. Drawn to this uniqueness and recalling the sense of not-belonging that is part of the intense experience of youth, Hugo’s invitation to the models was “Simply present yourself”. The resulting photographs embrace vulnerability and frailty as much as they do the agency and idealism of their subjects.