OUGD402 STUDIO BRIEF 1 - LEO CAILLARD - HIPSTERS IN STONE

I came across photographer Leo Caillard accidentally, and his "Hipsters in Stone" is something I have never seen done before. It combines artwork of the past with modern day styles to create something quirky and original.
Caillard got the idea for these photographs quite remarkably, as he said so himself: “I was walking across the Louvre in Paris as I do two or three times a month,” the Paris-based photographer recalled. “When I saw all the sculptures, I said to myself—it would be pretty fun to see them dressed.” This is exactly how “Hipster in Stone” was born. - Resource Online
Caillard created these images by photographing the statues in their original form, in the spots that they are found within The Louvre. Caillard would then find a model for each statue that has a similar build, and dress them in stereotypical "hipster" clothing, then photograph them in a confined studio space. The lighting during the studio shoot were adjusted to match the spotlights in The Louvre which the statues would be under. These two sets of images were then combined and touched up by Caillard himself and then Alexis Persani for final touch ups.
These are some of my more favourite photographs by Caillard.

This is the first photograph I found by Caillard and still my favourite. I love how delicate the statue appears, with strands of hair falling down her face, and the way she is tying up her hair so meticulously making her look vulnerable, her arms raised, The slight bend in the knee also reflects her innocence and feminine qualities, and makes her body bend in an appealing way that highlights her womanly curves. The dress Caillard has chosen to dress the statue in highlights her feminine yet simple appearance, with the brown/orange colour of the dress almost merging into the colour of the statue itself. The way the statue is looking down at the ground is not only a true characteristic of how women tie their hair back, but also makes her look even ore vulnerable and feminine, and allows people to admire her without risking her staring right back at you.

This statue has a lot more of a cocky appearance, his head thrown back in arrogance, which could just be the way men were portrayed in the period the statue was made in, when men were the alpha male. This statue is also dressed in much more obvious hipster clothing, whereas the previous female statue's dress was more neutral and understated. The jacket especially on this statue with the logos embellished on it, and also across the front of his t-shirt as well. The sunglasses also add an extra zing to the statue, as sunglasses are a common accessory for "hipsters".

This is a more upper class hipster, as the shorts and denim shirt appear simple yet well cut, suggesting money. Also the bag over the shoulder looks like a boy slinging his towel over his shoulder on the way back from the pool. 

All of these photographs highlight the contrast between the era in Greece when these statues were first produced, and the modern day, where a lot of things are all about the way you dress, the way you look. These photographs do this in a slightly humorous yet obvious way, as you can't help but notice these old statues clothed in "hipster" clothing, and smile to yourself at how funny it looks, but also how interesting it is as well, and how you would never expect to see something like this on any other occasion.