A DANCE WITH DEATH
CREATIVE DIRECTION
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This project explores the delicate relationship between life and mortality. It examines the inevitability of death and its quiet presence within everyday existence, focusing on the tension between beauty, vitality, and decay. Through fluid movement and haunting gestures, the models embody a continuous dance between life and its inevitable end. A moody red backdrop, dramatic lighting, and contrasting tones create a sense of fragility and darkness. Gothic-inspired fashion merges with modern sophistication, creating a visual narrative where elegance, passion, and mortality intertwine in an ethereal and timeless embrace.
Creative & Art Director: Vivien Nikfardjam
Photographer: Jojo Guzman
Stylists: Vivien Nikfardjam and Richlin Fharlo
Makeup Artist: Francine Padilla
Models: Vivien Nikfardjam and Matteo Da Costa
BRIEF​
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The task was to develop and execute a cohesive creative direction for a studio photoshoot exploring the relationship between life and mortality. I took on multiple roles throughout the project, working as the model, creative director, stylist, and editor. I developed the visual concept and directed the styling, MUAH, lighting, movement, and overall mood of the shoot.
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The process involved planning and executing the shoot while performing in front of the camera, followed by selecting and editing the final images to create a cohesive visual narrative that captured the contrast between beauty, vitality, fragility, and decay.
MOOD BOARD & RESEARCH:
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The styling focused on exaggerated silhouettes, combining vintage glamour with gothic and vampiric elements to create a look that felt beautiful, elegant, and almost lifeless. The posing drew from doll-like and puppet-like movements, using exaggerated, rigid gestures to create an uncanny sense of playfulness.
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Red and black lighting against a clear, minimal background emphasized dramatic shadows while creating the illusion of a grand, theatrical space reminiscent of a ballroom. Together, the styling, posing, and lighting created a sophisticated yet unsettling atmosphere where elegance and darkness coexist.
