Nick Fouquet and H&G | Going Beyond What the Eye Can See
by Olivia Novato
Image courtesy of H&G.
Image courtesy of H&G.
Creativity is not reserved merely for what we understand or what we can see. How about allowing for the creative exploration of what we don’t see, of the confusing, the hidden?
This is what renowned artistic duo Hunter and Gatti aimed to create with leading hat designer Nick Fouquet in the film, art and photography project titled Infinite. The film—which was shot with an infrared camera—aims to push and pull the senses, exploring what is visible beyond our typical sight. Using black and white infrared photography shifts the images, offering up a reality that the artists want us to see, rather than the reality we typically see.
Image courtesy of H&G.
Fouquet, whose carefully crafted, personalized hats have as fans stars like Cara Delevigne, Brad Pitt, and Johnny Depp, found inspiration from German artist Joseph Beuys in the work. Both artists found felt to be an essential medium in their art, using it as a symbol of both protection and even transformation. Beuys’ influence can be found throughout Infinite not only through felt, but also through the hare or the flowers.
Image courtesy of H&G.
Infinite was filmed with a combination of the 4:3 format, complete with vintage lenses, and the latest IR Spectrum filter that passes only near infrared beyond 729 nm. This blend of old and new technology helps guide the viewer through one reality and into the next. While the film runs for less than two minutes, the exploration into what we can and cannot see continues with a series of 27 artistic works created by H&G. These works delicately combine photography and painting with some pieces treated with thin paper dyed with organic inks, replicating a process of developing and treating the images inspired by how Fouquet carefully works with his hats.
With Infinite, Hunter & Gatti and Nick Fouquet remind us that our senses can often explore more than the limitations we expect.
Image courtesy of H&G.
Image courtesy of H&G.