Pulling Pins

Masahisa Fukase, Yoko, 1974

Fukase almost exclusively photographed his wife, Yoko, for 13 years until their breakup, afterwards obsessively photographing ravens,as symbols of his grief.

Fukase died in 2012,  having been in a coma for 20 years following a near-fatal fall down the stairs of his favorite bar in 1992. Yoko visited him twice a month throughout his long limbo – though, heartbreakingly, he would have been unaware of her presence.

Part of The Window Series by Masahisa Fukase

Maison Martin Margiela autumn—winter 1998—99. Three simultaneous video-projections show three women, each wearing garments of the collection.

Le Foyer de L’Arches, La Grande Arche de la Defence, Paris. A subterranean Space under the Arch de la Defence. Three people are chosen to each represent their professional discipline in presenting their vision on the collection: New York based photographer Mark Borthwick, London based stylist Jane How and Paris based writer Sydney Picasso. Mark Borthwick’s project included the projection of a video in two parts shot in New York in early March 1998 and a book entitled ‘2000-1’. The video features a verbal interaction between three women wearing garments of the collection. The book features photographs taken during the shooting of the video and is published in the autumn of 1998. For Jane How’s project fifteen life-size puppets are each dressed in an outfit of the collection styled by Jane. Two professional puppeteers manipulate each puppet, specially made in UK. Sydney Picasso decided to produce a white cotton ribbon, on which a continuous text is printed, as well as a pamphlet entitled ‘Endless Threads’. The tract is distributed and the ribbon is tied to everyone’s wrist as they enter the space. Thirty members of the Maison Martin Margiela staff, in blouses blanches (white coats) serve red wine to the crowed while the three visions on the collection are being expressed. A soundtrack by Mark Borthwick plays loudly.