The contrast between milk-bottle skin and the rich, leathery crocodile and alligator hide that envelop Lidi Kochetkova is jolting. Thoughts of animal cruelty and how one should feel with regards to its place in the world of fashion swirl merilessly alongside fascination and an appreciation for the beautiful work of photographer, Arnaud Pyvka. Juxtaposition is the name of the game as animalistic material drench the virginal and angelic subject, and although the shoot was intended as a showcase of material, something deeper stirs beneath.
She is naked, composed. She is exposed and awkwardly positioned. She is comfortable. She is a living canvas for the incredible skins of tannery Heng Long International, supplier to designers such as Prada and Louis Vuitton. The bright white and often over exposed images are a refelction of the message. A message of art and beauty, of laying preconceptions aside and appreciating what is placed before you.
For interview and more photographs see: http://www.nowness.com/day/2012/8/28/2339/exotic-skins