R Magazine, Ex-TeenArt_Issue 1_Authenticity Jun. 2015 | Page 26

Weird Beauty
Photo and makeup
The results obtained when shooting photos without makeup could be excellent. In the studio however, it seems
like having models who wear makeup is recommended
for best results. In “Weird Beauty”, monochrome makeup is primordial. That monochrome makeup constitutes almost exclusively the artistic sight of the project.
All credits for these real paintings on skin go to Valeriya Kutsan, an atypical artist recognized in Russia. She
plays with variations of shapes and lights to create optical illusions. The art lies in the symmetries and contrasts. This is the proof that traditional makeup is not
the only thing allowing the beautification of the face.
This series is a mix of art and modernity. The portraits
reveal women whose makeup constitutes contemporary
symbols, trademarks or familiar characters in black and
white. Models are Wi-Fi racks, QR code, Chanel logo,
Mickey Mouse etc. As the makeup is made with perfect
precision, it seems to have been made with stencils!
The black symbols grab us at first. It is only after that
we see the sweet models’ face underneath. This series
of photographs is the incredible fusion of two arts, photography and makeup. “Weird Beauty” can be interpreted
as a criticism of the consumer society where the individual disappears behind the new technologies and brands

Zoom on Alexander Khokhlov
Alexander Khokhlov starts taking pictures in 2007. He
is fascinated by the real, the concrete. In 2008, he got
interested in fashion and beauty, areas in which he excels! During a photo shoot with the makeup artist Veleriya Kutsan, he creates an optical illusion almost by pure
chance ... They made it happen recurrently until it becomes the brand of the Russian photographer. The “Art
of Face” is what distinguishes him. Alexander showcases
human trompe-l’oeil. It has been two years since people
have been talking in the photosphere about the photographer thanks to his “Weird Beauty” collection and his special photos.
Written by Laura Bonnieu
Translated from French to English by
Myriam Annick Tchameni