- Date
- 15 DECEMBER 2023
- Author
- RED-EYE TEAM
- Image by
- REX DI SALVO
- Categories
- Fashion
PortrAIts & Still lAIfe Issue One
At RED-EYE, we are committed to shaping the future of fashion. Our groundbreaking and engaging feature, PortrAIts & Still lAIfe, is dedicated to highlighting emerging and fascinating talents in the fields of fashion, art, music, and design. Featuring a wide array of individuals, including models, designers, stylists, and industry professionals, this project celebrates the diverse spectrum of personalities in the fashion industry. What truly distinguishes this endeavor is our intricate co-creation process with artificial intelligence, enhanced by a personal touch.
In this innovative project, we asked our models to bring a special object that holds significance to them. Through interviews, we delved deeper into their lives, learning about their passions, inspirations, and the stories behind their chosen objects. This intimate knowledge allowed us to co-create portraits with AI, infusing inputs from their objects and personalities. The result is a series of portraits that truly resonate with the essence of each individual.
PortrAIts & Still lAIfe seamlessly merges two worlds: the tangible and the digital. Our muses, dressed in ensembles that stunningly echo their authentic selves, are the focal point in both our physical reality and the virtual space on Spatial. Let's meet Zhexu, Eliza, Aya, Ohsara, and Ousmane – five rising stars in the fashion arena, each represented through a unique blend of personal storytelling and AI-enhanced creativity.
Would you mind sharing your name, place of origin, profession, and, if you’re into astrology, your zodiac sign?
My name is Zhexu but I prefer being called Sassi. Like the sea pebbles. I’m Chinese but I’ve been living in Milan for two years now.
What are your greatest passions and obsessions?
My passion would be spending time around nature, I love being at the sea doing nothing because it’s a thing that I missed my entire life. As an obsession, I would choose one that I would call a bad habit: modeling gave me an insane obsession on how I look. But I’m working on getting rid of it!
Could you delve into the significance of the object you've brought with you on set today?
Today I brought a pack of pasta special edition of Naples because this city represents my rebirth. I’ve been to Naples for a university exchange, and in that period my new life started: I started being a model, I opened up more!
If you were stranded in a desert oasis and could only have three series, movies, and songs with you, what would they be?
I would bring Game of Thrones because I was never able to finish the first episode but I read all the books! Another series I would be bringing would be a chinese series that I know how to play by heart. It’s a set comedy that tells the story of some people who work in a hotel of an ancient dinasty. The third series would be a comedy of the CBS, it’s called Mom! It tells about the relationship of a mother and her daughter. Surely I would get tired with just three songs but I would love to listen to three easy songs like Vesuvio of Nu Genea, Italove of Emmanuelle and in the end any classical piano song so that I can spend time without thinking about it too much.
Envision yourself transported to another dimension. How would you describe yourself, and what would your surroundings be like?
I asked myself this question multiple times because I’m obsessed with Manga and I’ve always thought about how I would like to be! And I would love to be a pirate because I’m obsessed with One Piece and I would adore to have my crew and fight for things I love.
Do you have a personal realm or alternate dimension where you feel more liberated?
Naples is my spiritual utopia. Even though I know it has many real problems, I projected every of my most beautiful ideas on this city.
What's your preferred spot in Milan, and do you have a favorite digital space?
Surely a club here in Milan, like Plastic! On the other hand, my digital favorite space is the whatsapp chat with the guy I like!
Would you mind sharing your name, place of origin, profession, and, if you’re into astrology, your zodiac sign?
My name is Eliza, I’m from Germany but I moved to Milan 1 year ago. I study fashion design and fashion marketing. I’m a bit into astrology and my zodiac sign is Capricorn, Leo Rising, Gemini Moon.
What are your greatest passions and obsessions?
I’m most definitely into fashion, like everything or almost everything in the creative industry like fashion photography, painting, styling, everything like this. And obsession of mine… I would say cats probably. I’m really obsessed with cats.
Could you delve into the significance of the object you've brought with you on set today?
I brought an Hello Kitty plushie because Hello Kitty was my whole childhood and I still love Hello Kitty. Everyone who knows me know that I’m into it.
If you were stranded in a desert oasis and could only have three series or movies, and songs with you, what would they be?
It’s super hard! Let’s start with three songs: the first is a track from the rapper Mike Jenkins. The other ones would be probably something from The Weeknd and from Queen. I love Freddie Mercury.
I’m really bad at movies! I would say two series: Black Mirror, Stranger Things and one movie: That’s my boy with Adam Sandler
Envision yourself transported to another dimension. How would you describe yourself, and what would your surroundings be like?
I will probably be like an elf or a fairy, and around me there would be the same atmosphere like a rainy forest or something like that.
Do you have a personal realm or alternate dimension where you feel more free?
I think by the lake or by the sea!
What's your preferred spot in Milan, and do you have a favorite digital space?
My favorite spot here in Milan is Chinatown, it’s near where I live and I love it.
About my favorite digital space I would say Tik Tok. To me it’s a safe space, it’s more open than Instagram which is about perfection while on Tik Tok you are free to share everything.
Would you mind sharing your name, place of origin, profession, and, if you’re into astrology, your zodiac sign?
My name is Aya I’m from Toronto and my origin is Pakistani. And my zodiac sign is Taurus!
What are your greatest passions and obsessions?
I’m obsessed with traveling and that’s why I started to study tourism in Bergamo.
Could you delve into the significance of the object you've brought with you on set today?
I have a little lucky ring that my dad gave to me in 2019. It’s an opal ring, the reason why it’s opal it’s because we have a distant family member who looks into your natal chart and what stone is the best for you. My dad has a similar ring for himself so he got one for me.
If you were stranded in a desert oasis and could only have three series/movies, and songs with you, what would they be?
This is a though question! One of them would be Friends because of its nostalgic vibes. The other would be Black Mirror because every single episode is different, and the third one would be Spongebob!
About the music: my first track is Window by Still Woozy, an indie pop song, then something by Bad Bunny and the last one would be something by Drake.
Envision yourself transported to another dimension. How would you describe yourself, and what would your surroundings be like?
I would be like a gender-less, faceless figure. Very similar to the figure shown in the ending of the movie Annihilation. And in my surroundings I envision an abundance of new colors unimaginable to a human on earth, unique foliage and symmetry/ geometrical shapes within that dimension’s elements.
Do you have a personal realm or alternate dimension where you feel more liberated?
As a child I used to lucid dream a lot, like almost every night. It’s less often now in comparison but whenever I do have that experience it’s amazing because to me it feels nostalgic & truly like another world/ dimension that I’m able to enter.
What's your preferred spot in Milan, and do you have a favorite digital space?
Whenever I'm in Milan, the sight of the Duomo never fails to amaze me. Its architectural beauty is truly captivating. As for my favorite digital space, I'd have to say TikTok! I enjoy the creativity and variety of content on the platform.
Would you mind sharing your name, place of origin, profession, and, if you’re into astrology, your zodiac sign?
My name is Ohsara and I’m from Milan, my zodiac sign is Capricorn but I do not believe in astrology.
What are your greatest passions and obsessions?
My biggest passions are singing, reading and sports. Obsessions are movies, I’m a film enthusiast!
Could you delve into the significance of the object you've brought with you on set today?
I brought a bracelet that my dad gave me when I was 15 years old and I brought it with me because it was his first gift.
If you were stranded in a desert oasis and could only have three series, movies, and songs with you, what would they be?
I would bring with me: The Notebook, Shutter Island and the Great Gatsby. The three songs would be: Rock your body by Michael Jackson - I have a lot in my mind! - I’m Ready by Alicia Keys and One of the girls by The Weeknd.
Envision yourself transported to another dimension. How would you describe yourself, and what would your surroundings be like?
I envision myself hyper tall, like a giant and with blue hair, just like an Avatar. And the world around me would be similar to the real world.
Do you have a personal realm or alternate dimension where you feel more liberated?
My safe space is the bathroom!
What's your preferred spot in Milan, and do you have a favorite digital space?
My favorite Digital Space is Netflix for all the movies, while my favorite place in Milan is Navigli!
Would you mind sharing your name, place of origin, profession, and, if you’re into astrology, your zodiac sign?
My name is Ousmane Silla, I’m from Senegal but I’ve been living in Italy since I was a kid. I’m still in high school, fourth year of high school. I don’t believe in astrology but I am a lion.
What are your greatest passions and obsessions?
My biggest passion is fashion, my obsession is a combat sport that I usually practice.
Could you delve into the significance of the object you've brought with you on set today?
Today I brought with me a t-shirt that I created with my group, made of 7 members. In the picture is us with the moon, which for us is a symbol of self growth and success.
If you were stranded in a desert oasis and could only have three series, movies, and songs with you, what would they be?
My three movies would be Avengers End Game, The Hangover and then I would say Black Panther. The three songs would be Mo Bamba, then FE!N by Travis Scott and Human by Rag’n’Bone.
Envision yourself transported to another dimension. How would you describe yourself, and what would your surroundings be like?
I would be in a world all neat, precise and clean. I imagine myself with more control over myself.
Do you have a personal realm or alternate dimension where you feel more liberated?
My safe space would be with my friends in a living room with a tv to play video games while we smoke and we talk about anything.
What's your preferred spot in Milan, and do you have a favorite digital space?
My favorite place in Milan is Duomo because there are all the stores that I like. While my digital favorite space is TikTok.
Interview by @lluciamarinelli
Creative Direction @gloriamariagallery
Photographer & AI Artist : Rosario Rex Di Salvo @rosariorex
Shot at @superstudio13 and 3D Scans @EPHOTO.STUDIO
Ph. Assistant 1: Maria Luisa Zoccoli @marialuisazoccoli
Ph. Assistant 2: Gaia Cantarutti @gayacantarutti
Stylist: Giorgia Imbrenda @giorgia_imbrenda
Assistant 1: Sofia Spini @sofispini
Assistant 2: Andrea Niita @anduja.tv
Hair Stylist: Gabriele Marozzi @gab_marozzi
Assistant 1: Antonia Romito @Antoniaromitomakeupartist
Make up Artist: Silvia Acquapendente @silvia_acquapendente
Assistant 1: Sara Zollo @sarazollomua._
Assistant 2: Maria Grazia Arcese @mariagraziaarcese_mua
Red-Eye Team
Editor in-Chief : @gloriamariagallery
Editorial Director : @danieleverse
Features Editor : @eleonoraapirisi
Art Director : @gambardl
Editorial Executive: @lluciamarinelli
Metaverse Designer: @martromeo
Account Manager: @doppia_h
Models:
Zhexu @cupidintears from @morfosi_milano
Ousmane Sylla @_.westtt._ from @crewmodelmanagement
Eliza @elizaasofia from @boommodels
Aya Amad @rubyridin from @theclawmodels
Ohsara @ohsara.wa from @manifestomodels
Special thanks to all the amazing team at @superstudio13 and @EPHOTO.STUDIO, @alisonbrezza, @julia.drixhen
➡️ Don't forget to check out the portrAIts' full immersive virtual 3D experience here on SPATIAL ♨️👁