Interview

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Last night, the new Cooper Square event space MINA hosted photographs by Victor Demarchelier, paintings by Alexandra Richards, and collaborative mixed media works by Matthew Rowean and Alexander Noe. It goes without saying that it was a family affair for Demarchelier, whose pairing with the paintings of Rolling Stones progeny Alexandra Richards came via his brother Arthur, who organized the exhibition. Need we say it was his noted father Patrick Demarchelier who introduced junior to a serious study of photography? While a student at Vassar (Class of 2006), Demarchelier took art classes, but didn't move form printmaking to photography until he began to work in his father's studio: "I loved it right away. The move from the print studio to the dark room was natural," says Demarchelier. Luckily, the work-live situation didn't stress either of them out; "He's very nice to me," says Victor of his father, with whom he is still employed.

 DJ Mess Kid and his girlfriend at the after-party at 1Oak; Annabella Santos, Michael Vendola and friends. Photos by Victor Demarchelier.

At MINA, Demarchelier exhibited works from various bodies of work: fashion stories; portraits of his girlfriend, model Caroline Trentini; personal projects including still lifes and studies; snapshots from a trip to India. His favorite piece is a photograph of teddbear that was given to him by his grandmother upon birth. The bear is called Nalla, which is Swedish for teddy bear; he calls the picture "Self-Portrait." Coming ostensibly from a background in both art and fashion, Demarchelier exhibited here some among with paintings: "I think fashion and art are very much the same. That's what I tried to do with the show."

Patrick Demarchelier and Mia Demarchelier; Victor Demarchelier, Danko Steiner, and Arthur Demarchelier.

What might Demarchelier still want? The young photographer, who admires Francis Bacon and Richard Prince, and "the old photographers"—Bruce Weber, Herb Ritts, Avedon and Penn, included a portrait of his father in the show. He says, "I love to shoot any artist I appreciate."