As I delve further into leather, not only do I gather new references but I equally revisit images and icons that have subconsciously affected me in one way or another. It is easy to impartially present pictures of celebrities, editorials, bands...when there is no personal relation, they are easy to recycle and manipulate. But once there is an intimate connection, a social encounter, the anonymous photo is transformed into something much more precious. This is why I find it slightly uncomfortable (and endlessly comical) to devote a post to the youthful leather bondage habits of Blixa Bargeld!
As I hope most you know, I am a die hard fan of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. So in my last semester of Art School (Fall 08) when I read the class description for a "sound & performance course taught by ex-badseeder Blixa Bargeld, I practically passed out. Not to mention that I had some knowledge of his pioneering experimental/industrial band, Einstürzende Neubauten.
Though there were several glitches in chemistry of the class as a whole (long story), I hung onto every word spoken by Bargeld, the most memorable of which was his formula for a successful piece of artwork: POWER + MAGIC + TRUTH. He wanted us to always be fully committed to what we were working on, and take ourselves and what we did seriously.
So how does this all relate? I guess it all stems from respect and admiration for Blixa - as a performer, teacher, and (gulp) style icon. I really can't help but be mesmerized by what appears to be his standard go-to outfit for a period in time; Leather trousers, leather vest, crotch harness, multi-strap body corset (Rodarte, get inspired!) - a blatantly S&M look carried off with such ease!
(Blixa - if you end up here from a google alert, please do not think I am a major creep - its all pure respect & research!)As I hope most you know, I am a die hard fan of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. So in my last semester of Art School (Fall 08) when I read the class description for a "sound & performance course taught by ex-badseeder Blixa Bargeld, I practically passed out. Not to mention that I had some knowledge of his pioneering experimental/industrial band, Einstürzende Neubauten.
Though there were several glitches in chemistry of the class as a whole (long story), I hung onto every word spoken by Bargeld, the most memorable of which was his formula for a successful piece of artwork: POWER + MAGIC + TRUTH. He wanted us to always be fully committed to what we were working on, and take ourselves and what we did seriously.
So how does this all relate? I guess it all stems from respect and admiration for Blixa - as a performer, teacher, and (gulp) style icon. I really can't help but be mesmerized by what appears to be his standard go-to outfit for a period in time; Leather trousers, leather vest, crotch harness, multi-strap body corset (Rodarte, get inspired!) - a blatantly S&M look carried off with such ease!
(photos from various tumblrs)
& a nice art school nugget: our circle of laptops (sound orchestra), with Blixa in the center as conductor. Somehow he ended up with a traffic cone on his head...
10 comments:
I can't believe there was a unit at your Art School taught by Blixa Bargeld. Amazing.
I see an inspired crotch harness in the works?
omg you had a class taught by blixa bargeld?? that rules!! i am huge einsturzende neubaten fan...i would've died and gone to heaven.
Omg..
great pics..LOVE IT <3
xoxo*
http://ivaniadiamond.blogspot.com
Too, too cool.
haha, you should have explained how we decided what projects each person should do.
hehe funny, I met him when I was a kid and he signed my poem book!!
he's pretty rad in all those pics!
A.MAY.ZEENG.
Holy shit. You are one lucky girl Zana! I've actually been on an Einstürzende Neubauten kick lately.
ah dear.
damn.
The ultimate style icon - in the 80s as well as now, maybe minus the straw hat era. Bows and leathers are a breathtaking combination together.
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