Banks Violette, an upstate New York-born painter and sculptor, who gave Art is Alive an interview in 2010, remains close to Hedi Slimane. The great and enigmatic artist has partnered with Celine to display a series of works in the prestigious house’s spaces around the world.

“I trust Hedi. I really enjoy what he does. I’m not interjecting what I think the fashion should be. That’s not my job. It would be kind of silly. So, I was just super-fascinated to see what he ended up doing with it. And I’m really pleased with it. The work is cool.” Violette said about his previous collaboration on the Fall / Winter 2022 collection.

Violette was also featured in the 2007 exhibition Sweet Bird of Youth, which brought together young artists who were part of a movement defined by the late Dash Snow. The exhibition was organised by Hedi Slimane for Arndt & Partner Gallery in Berlin. Exploring ideas of rock’n’roll and rebellion was welcomed, the exhibition also included Terence Koh, Ryan McGinley, and Nate Lowman.

This iteration of the Celine Art Project, which consists of fourteen new works in total drawing parallels with “chandelier structures,” was on display at Celine stores across the globe and in time for the recent festive season. The pieces are all made of three industrial lighting displays that have been nearly completely disassembled. Violette’s mystic palette remains with white lights, black and grey metal. The works are poetic, nostalgic and fierce.

“The thing that I’ve always admired about Hedi is that even when the approach is deconstructed, there isn’t any critical remove or detachment. There’s a genuine sincerity to his investment in the things he admires. As a result, he can transform something that is permanently framed as ironic into its opposite”. The displays remain on view in January 2024.

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