The square-format c-print and silkscreen works have been created as a collaboration between the British photographer and the Paris-based art and design duo on occasion of this year’s Art Basel, June 16-19.
The images are taken from the covers of Ultimate Clothing Company (2013) and Ceremony (2016), both self-published volumes of McLellan’s work, and designed by M/M. These two photographs are typical of his portraiture work for their exploration of British masculinity and regiment. Portraits of young men in the Ultimate Clothing Company series, clothed and nude, contrast with the uniformed subjects of Ceremony, yet each collection shares a familiar sensitivity and ease.
These 2016 editions emphasize the graphic elements of the original book covers, here screen-printed at the surface of the photographic prints, in a square format reminiscent of record sleeves ― a direct nod to McLellan’s and M/M’s shared pop obsessions.
Alasdair McLellan (b. 1974 in Doncaster, South Yorkshire) is a British photographer who has worked with musician Adele to photograph the cover of her album, 25 and has directed music videos for the band Xx. McLellan has published several photography books, most notably Ceremony in 2016, which documented the lives of British soldiers both on and off duty. McLellan has explored themes of masculinity in other projects, often working to depict a nuanced and multi-faceted experience.