Do you think dandelions are just weeds? Artist Duy Anh Nhan Duc and photographer Isabelle Chapuis challenge you to think otherwise. Dandelion, their collaborative series, features the famous puffballs arranged on models’ faces and bodies, turning them into downy masks and costumes. Chapuis describes herself as being interested in chrysalis-like material and layers that both conceal and reveal what lurks inside. Duy Anh Nhan Duc‘s fascination is with all things verdant. The result is this ethereal, dreamy series.
Chapuis’ work in fashion and art photography is heavily focused on texture — specifically organic textures like fiber, cloth, and plants. The materials, which remind her of the chrysalises she loves so much, serve as a way to lend depth and transformative power to her subjects.
Happy with the results of Dandelion, the pair collaborated again on a series called Etamine. This time, instead of soft, monochromatic dandelion puffs, they used bright, vibrant flower petals from irises, carnations, and chrysanthemums. These flowers are more like bright jewelry, or even armor.
Moving to France from Vietnam at the age of 10, Duy Anh Nhan Duc found that he deeply missed the lush plant life of his home. Seeking to get back in touch with the flora of Vietnam led him to create art using plants. He describes the process of creating art as being “a bubble of oxygen.”
Both of these series have been published in magazines, and they’ve drawn considerable attention. Using natural, everyday materials, the two artists were able to celebrate both the human form and the plant world in these surreal photos. Dandelion is a quiet study of texture and the concept of growth. Etamine, with its brighter colors, looks more like a traditional fashion shoot, but shows that striking photos can be created using simple, organic materials.
You can see more work by both Isabelle Chapuis and Duy Ahn Nhan Duc on their respective websites. Also be sure to follow Chapuis on Facebook and Instagram and Duy Ahn Nhan Duc on Instagram and Facebook.
