1 of 2
Images via projects + gallery
"I needed hair to become alive, basically. I'm more perhaps of a sculptor. I love doing hair sculptures," Charlie Le Mindu says.
2 of 2
St. Louis receives a visual treat this weekend courtesy of the Paris-based multidisciplinary artist Charlie Le Mindu. With the opening of "Charlie Would…" his first U.S. solo show on Thursday at projects + gallery, he kicks off a weekend highlighting everything this fascinating artist does best.
Le Mindu, who is known for his use of hair as an electrifying medium, combines elements of sculpture, fashion, beauty and performance art in all of his work. While he has been known to be inspired by the world of European nightlife and drag performance, his influences run the gamut, from ancient mythology to fantasy and medieval headdresses.
You can also catch Le Mindu at the Barrett Barrerra Projects Presents Charlie Le Mindu Artist Talk and book signing at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Washington University in Givens Hall. On Sunday, following a private performance with Peaches, Le Mindu will DJ a party at the .ZACK in Grand Center featuring provocative drag and burlesque performances by Maxi Glamour, Pinko, Siren and Kenadie St. James and a DJ set by 18andCounting. The party, which is free and open to the public, starts at 9 p.m.
St. Louisans may remember Le Mindu’s work here from "The Queen Within" show, which was the brainchild of Susan Barrett at The Chess Museum and who is now the proprietor of projects + gallery as well as the president of Barrett Barrerra Projects, a company which represents artists and presents exhibitions worldwide.
"What Charlie is forcing us to do, not only shakes up the art world but also the way we are approaching it,’ Barrett told me when I asked what drew her to Charlie’s stunning works in the first place. “Charlie, because of his fluidity between art and performance works, has helped us to restructure Barrett Barrera to be more of an artist agency rather than as an artist representation. This means we've had to understand and support Charlie's work as a complete package and create a venue in which to showcase Charlie himself. There is no way to separate the art from the person. Leave it to Charlie to shake up the art world and the art world shakers!"
SLM had a chance to chat with Le Mindu about his work and the events this weekend. Here’s what he told us:
St. Louis Magazine: This is not your first time to STL, you have been here several times before, but this is your first solo show with projects + gallery?
Charlie Le Mindu: Yes. Basically I'm the one who contacted Susan Barrett to represent me at the beginning because she wanted to introduce fashion, and I am a huge collector of fashion. She wanted to introduce fashion in terms of the contemporary art world. At this time I am in between, fashion, art, and performance work. I think she was the best person to represent me. We first did a show, "The Queen Within," at the Chess Museum, and we worked really well together. After speaking with her for a while, we thought this would be the best way to introduce myself with this show "Charlie Would…" and then doing more projects at the end of the year for Miami Art Basel and some projects in NYC as well.
SLM: You seem to like STL obviously? You were also here last year for the STL Fashion Fund gala?
Le Mindu: (Laughs) Yes, I love it. It's very relaxing for me here. It's great! At the Fashion Fund gala, I dressed several models in some of my wigs and they walked around the event as a sort of performance in itself.
SLM: Tell me about this show in particular…
Le Mindu: Basically I wanted to show people what you can do with human hair or synthetic hair, though I mostly use human hair, but I wanted to show different techniques to people showcasing different colors. For example there is the collection I am showing called "Stronger," and basically I wanted to show the strongest color in terms of lighting and reflecting the light which could work on hair. So for the last six months I had to work in a cave in black light to perfect the best light.
I didn't use any additional products, just the basic chemicals that are used to create these colors. I was trying to show lots of different techniques that you can use. There is also the “Gold” collection where I actually use real gold thread with Russian hair, so it's a mix a different techniques and things you can do with hair.
SLM: How do you define yourself? A conceptual artist? Performance artist?
Le Mindu: Well I don't know that I'm an artist (laughs) but it's difficult to say. I started as a hairdresser, and I got very bored. I wanted to touch more people, and I wanted something different. So I went into performance, and when I did that, I did clothing made of hair and I put it on the catwalk. I saw it on the models, I saw the movement. That's when I started working with performers and dancers and created shows.
For example on Sunday, the show I am doing for the Peaches performance, she's going to be wearing all of my stuff, and you will see movement. I think should hair should move anyway, even Beyonce when she's on stage she has a wind machine. (Laughs) I needed hair to become alive, basically. I'm more perhaps of a sculptor. I love doing hair sculptures, so that's what I love as well as the performance.
SLM: So this week, we will have a whole demonstration it seems of all that you do! You’re still work as well as performance.
Le Mindu: Exactly. The point of my work is to give a better aspect to the beauty industry as well. I work a lot with makeup, and I use hair on lots of performers and make videos of it. I made a dress of fake nails. It's all based around beauty, basically.
SLM: What are your inspirations?
Le Mindu: I love architects. Frank Gehry and Oscar Neimeier, who designed Brasilia, are two of my favorites, and they are huge inspiration for the shapes of my works. I also love movie directors John Waters, Alejandro Jodorwsky, and Sergei Parajanov. I love these people and the fantastic worlds they create.
SLM: And drag?
Le Mindu: Exactly! Which you find in John Waters movies.
