MUSÉE: Your Instagram, Siduations, has amassed 164K followers [at the time of this interview]. So
how do you define a siduation? SIDUATIONS: A siduation is putting people on a level playing field - mixing
high and low, rich and poor, fantasy and reality. There’s so much division in our world - class, politics, race, reli-
gion, sex - creating siduations was my way of uniting them. MUSÉE: I’ve read that you previously worked as
fashion publicist in New York and one of the founders of United Bamboo, the artists collective. What
drew you to the fashion industry? SIDUATIONS: I was drawn to the fashion industry because it encompasses
art, design, music, photography, storytelling - all of which I’ve dabbled in. They’re all forms escapism for me - I
can transform myself into whoever I want to be by just putting on a garment. I’ve always felt like an outsider, like
I don’t fit in. Perhaps it’s because I’m a product of first generation immigrants, being gay, belonging to a certain
class, or all of the above. MUSÉE: I’m curious about your artistic background. Did you have any formal
training in digital retouching before creating the Instagram? SIDUATIONS: I took a basic photoshop class
in highschool, back in the early 90s. Unfortunately, I didn’t retain much of the information, so I had to relearn it by
trial and error. If I’m stuck on something, I’ll watch a YouTube video. MUSÉE: Tell us about your process of
creation. Can you expand on the conception of these images? Are they planned in advance or more
organic? SIDUATIONS: The concept for the images are organic. I’m drawn to facial expressions, garments,
or poses that I can associate with a current event, location, or pop culture reference - usually it’s the first thing
that comes to mind. MUSÉE: You seem to draw inspiration from a lot of street photographers, Tommy
Ton and Phil Oh. Are there certain designers that you pay special attention to? SIDUATIONS: I tend
to favor designers that transport you to another universe. It’s not just through their collections, it’s the way they
present it. Think early Alexander McQueen or John Galliano shows for their eponymous labels or Givenchy and
Dior, respectively. MUSÉE: There seems to be a sub-level of witty humor embedded in every image you
post. I find it quite refreshing as the fashion world does not often poke fun of themselves. What do
you think of Elle crowning you as “the mastermind making fashion fun again?” SIDUATIONS: I think
that title is flattering! Though there seems to be a sub-level of witty humor embedded in every image, most of
it isn’t intentional. Sure, some find it funny to see an image of - let’s say - someone wearing a full Comme des
Garçons look at a McDonald’s, but why? If fashion is meant to be worn, who’s to say where and when they can
wear it? MUSÉE: Is there an image that you’ve made that stands out as one you’re especially proud
of? SIDUATIONS: Not really. It’s probably because I’ve been staring at it too long and notice all the mistakes.
I’ve been treating each image like the Tibetan monks ritual destruction of their sand mandalas - once I post it, I
move on to the next. MUSÉE: I imagine the possibilities for images like these are endless. What do you
see yourself doing in the future? SIDUATIONS: I consider all of my images “editorial on a budget.” If I had the
funds, I would creative direct real-life siduations, working on photos or films with a team of other creatives - pho-
tographers/directors, models, hair & make-up artists, stylists, set designers. MUSÉE: And one last question
before you go, when you’re not creating what do you like to do? SIDUATIONS: Daydream.
All images Siduations, 2019; except lower right image, Chalayan-091917, 2017.
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