Whether in love or out of love, you won’t have failed to notice that today is Valentine’s Day. First established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, it has now become synonymous with cliché cards, bunches of roses, trays of chocolate, oversized fluffy
Whether in love or out of love, you won’t have failed to notice that today is Valentine’s Day. First established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, it has now become synonymous with cliché cards, bunches of roses, trays of chocolate, oversized fluffy toys and candlelit dinners. Research suggests that the UK spends an estimated £4.9 billion on romance, with people now often citing it as a “Hallmark holiday".
Whilst we are all for celebrating Valentine’s Day here at AnOther (look no further than our red themed AnOther Loves today), we prefer to reflect more tastefully on the subject of love as we look back through the past amorous content from our archives...
1) Anatomy of Desire
What could be more symbolic of love than a kiss? And whilst we don’t want to get all lovey-dovey on you, artist Charlie Murphy’s glass kiss casts will make you look at this most intimate of human contact in a way you have never seen before. Often recording this unique moment through performative “kiss-in events”, she first uses a complex series of positive and negative wax moulds and plaster made out of the inside of a couple’s kiss before finally firing it in a glass kiln, which can take several days.
2) Alex Dromgoole and Katie Shillingford’s Wedding
On Friday July 29 of last year, AnOther contributing fashion editor and Dazed & Confused senior fashion editor Katie Shillingford marrried Alex Dromgoole. Whilst weddings are always a teary event as two people come together and unite their love, Shillingford’s striking Gareth Pugh slashed chiffon dress and Stephen Jones veil ensemble complete with mesmerising make-up by Alex Box and romantic pink-waved hair by Alex Brownsell set our hearts fluttering.
3) Jane & Jeremy
London-based independent publishers Jane Wilson and Jeremy Kunze know a good thing or two about creating unique, high quality, handmade books. Whilst surprisingly only a sideline project to their “day job’s” their intriguing list of publications includes the self-explanatory Polaroid Kisses and XXX – which shows a series of climactic kisses from films. In fitting with the subject of this article, the work partners are also love partners and are getting married later this year…
4) Love is… Last Tango in Paris
“Love is…”, by photographer EJ Major, is a limited edition artist’s book made up of 450 returned postcards from over 7000 hand-delivered to households throughout the UK between 2004 and 2006. Printed on the front of each card was a screenshot taken from each second of the 1972 Bernardo Bertolucci's erotically charged film Last Tango in Paris, on the back of the card was the artist’s freepost address and “love is…” inviting recipients to respond and return the postcard. An intriguing exploration into what love means to a variety of people, the project’s use of Bertolucci’s anti-cliché love film is also poignant – highlighting how this emotion can not only be passionate but also fiercely sexual and vicious at times.
5) Yves Saint Laurent L’Amour Fou
On the day of Test Presents… screening of L’Amour Fou we presented a clip taken from the documentary, which follows the story of late designer Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé’s professional and personal 40-year relationship. Full of highs and lows the film offers an insightful look into the courturier's private life as Bergé openly speaks about Saint Laurent’s creative genius and struggles with drugs and alcohol.
Text by Lucia Davies
