Amongst Anna Wintour’s five favourite images from Vogue’s rich history is one of the most iconic fashion photographs of the 20th century: ‘The Divers’. Beyond its elegant composition and statuesque subjects, this piece is admired most for its artful execution—what seems to be a couple sitting on a diving board overlooking the French riviera, was, in fact, fabricated by a stack of boxes on the roof of Vogue’s Paris studio in Champs-Élysées, while the top of the wall surrounding the building provided the illusion of a still, tranquil horizon.
The mastermind behind the famous photograph was none other than George Hoyningen-Huene. Revered for his one-of-a-kind eye for fashion photography, Hoyningen-Huene ascended to the role of Chief Photographer at Vogue Paris in 1926, then went on to produce notable documentaries—eventually contributing to 13 Hollywood films over his lifetime.
This year, an exhibition of over 32 of Hoyningen-Huene’s breathtaking works opened in Singapore for the first time, at the elegant ARTitude Galeria on Dempsey Road. In a month-long display, George Hoyningen-Huene: The Master of Élégance & Allure showcases the master’s most iconic black and white photographs, including portraits of artists, models, high society and stars of Hollywood’s golden age—in lush, platinum-palladium archival prints.
Committed to spearheading cultural conversations in Singapore and the region, Vogue Singapore collaborated with Grupo ARTitudeGrupo ARTitude to launch the exhibition with an opening vernissage. To kickstart the evening’s programme, opening speeches were made by Vogue Singapore publisher Bettina von Schlippe alongside Tommy Rönngren, owner of the George Hoyningen-Heune Estate.
Club Vogue members, key partners from esteemed institutions and a vibrant guestlist of artists were in attendance, celebrating a night of art, high fashion and cinema over tipples and canapés. The exclusive preview provided an opportunity to get up close and personal with the exhibition and gain behind-the-scenes knowledge about what makes his work so special. Notable highlights include a section dedicated to Hoyningen-Heune’s connection to fashion designer Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, and another which spotlights his photographs capturing the brilliance of many Paris fashion designers such as Lanvin, Patou, and Schiaparelli.
Dedicated to shaping the local cultural landscape, this vernissage was but one of the myriad ways that Vogue Singapore connects with and supports the art and design community—look out for many more notable events in the year to come.
Visit George Hoyningen-Huene: The Master of Élégance & Allure at ARTitude Galeria from 26 April to 24 May.
