Chris Rellas‘ collages are amusing and ironic, but they brilliantly open a window to our contemporary culture. By adding an object or even just a little detail – that could be a little double C Chanel earring, the world-known LV monogram on a dress, or the new-found glory of Calvin Klein underwear – to magnificent and world-known paintings of our past or to famous icons of fashion, cinema, and art that made history, he give us an interesting idea of what our contemporary world has become. Kate Moss is our ‘personal jesus’ taken from the Vogue bible, while a credit card is seen as the only valid pass that could open your doors in this life. This irreverent collages cunningly show, in a very simple and clear way, how world of fashion is so deeply rooted in our everyday life, that, maybe a bit embarrassingly saying, you could tell for sure the name of the brand that made that particular piece of clothing rather that the title or the author of a painting that should be in everyone’s cultural baggage. Who is Jan Vermeer compared to Coco Chanel? And where has the dignity of the past gone? Everyone knows that Céline t-shirt, but what notable things did that odd woman with that ugh unibrow? I want that Kendall Jenner’s new discovered Calvin Klein underwear, but who’s that naked guy wearing them? Is this what happen when you read your November issue under the desk while art’s teacher is speaking at the blackboard?
Recently Chris Rellas has been involved in a project launched by Alessandro Michele, the new young designer of one of the most important Italian luxury maison: Gucci. #GucciGram – you can easily find results on Instagram and in the dedicated website – shows how young creatives and illustrators from around the world, both well-known and not, represent in their own terms Gucci’s prints, Gucci Blooms and Gucci Caleido. Rellas has wisely been one of the people invited, and this is a deserved opportunity for this young artist to show his talent.
Find out more on Chris Rellas: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
Marina Lepori
