Yves Saint Laurent

graphite & putty eraser/30x20cm
original source: 'The Guardian' 03/06/08

Amongst the photographs illustrating the newspaper obituaries of Yves Saint Laurent last week appeared the particular one from which this latest drawing was transcribed: quite possibly it’s my favourite of the source material used so far, having a compelling appearance so redolent of the Sixties amongst its attractions which also include the basic composition & the expression in the model’s eyes – as befitting the subject, perhaps, it’s such a stylish image in every way.

The drawing itself is the second made from the original inverted, as in the recent example similarly inspired by Malcolm Morley's habitual method of doing so - again, the process of transcription becomes a more abstract one, resolving itself into a figurative whole upon completion & re-invertion the right way up again.

Obviously being aware of YSL’s iconic status but not necessarily of all the subtleties as to why exactly – I’m no great follower of fashion or its history, whilst attempting to remain stylish at all times, of course, at least in one’s own idiosyncratic manner! - something struck me as being perfect aesthetically, fashionably, yet unusually, whilst keeping an eye on the Euro 2008 football match between Holland & Italy. Traditionally, the Dutch players sport orange socks to match their always vivid shirts but the latest, current incarnation of their strip featured a delightfully surprising variation in the form of sky blue socks: somehow, this just looks so absolutely ‘right’ – my favourites for the tournament, certainly for these aesthetic reasons, which are the only ones that matter…although the breathtaking speed & precision with which the team broke & scored 2 of their goals in the match are perhaps another & footballing reason to be attracted to them. On a related point, it should be noted that the Italian shirts were, unfortunately, a shade or 2 darker than their usual perfect, beautiful, deep azure ‘Azzurri’ blue – a reason perhaps for their less-than-perfect defensive frailities that enabled the Dutch to so ruthlessly defeat them.



Soundtrack:


PJ Harvey 'White Chalk'