In the era of #MeToo and as
higher levels of attention are granted to how widespread
violence against women is across the world, the 2019 Pirelli
calendar attempts to show women's challenges and successes.
In the 46th edition of the calendar, shot by photographer
Albert Watson in April between Miami and New York, 40 photos in
black and white and color tell of the lives of women trying to
achieve their goals, dreams and passions with commitment,
courage and foresight.
The photos are part of 4 small "docu-films" starring model
Gigi Hadid with designer Alexander Wang, actress Julia Garner,
ballet dancer Misty Copeland, Calvin Royal III, Laetitia Casta
and Sergei Polunin.
The calendar seems to be far from the transgressive images
seen in the calendar by Steve Meisel in 2015.
Watson asked his models to show off their dreams, following
in the path trailblazed by Annie Leibovitz in 2016 and then
continued by Peter Lindbergh (2017) and Tim Walker (2018).
The Scottish fashion photographer studied graphic design and
film before trying his hand at photography in 1971.
Watson said that the initial idea was to make a four-part
documentary film, adding that he usually focuses on fashion, ads
and film posters. However, he thought that a combination of
graphic design and cinema would help to create a new trend, both
in the combinations - an engaged couple, two female friends and
a single woman and her male friend - and in the stories.
He said that since the sexually explicit 'pin-up' sort of
calendar had been explored many times in the past, now exploring
cinema would be interesting.
But the concept, he said, aimed to "explore women", after
which the idea of their dreams and incorporating the meaning
behind reflecting on the future.
The ballet star Misty Copeland said that the message was a
symbolic one, expressing the idea that women are making
themselves heard and that they have important things to say.
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