Jacob Elordi Stars in Bottega Veneta’s Dreamlike New Campaign
Bottega Veneta has launched a new campaign by photographer Duane Michals, who shares his vision on dreams and surrealism. Michals explains,
“Surrealism suggests an alternative profound reality. It’s discomforting, and it contradicts the mere facts of our ordinary reality.”
The campaign, titled What Are Dreams, features Jacob Elordi in a photo series and short film created in collaboration with Bottega Veneta. This project reflects Michals’ long engagement with surrealism since the 1960s.
The premiere took place at Curzon Mayfair alongside Bottega Veneta and Club Ciné on November 3, preceding a screening of Guillermo del Toro’s new film Frankenstein, starring Elordi.
Artistic Influences and Visual Style
Michals draws inspiration from metaphysical painter Giorgio de Chirico and surrealist René Magritte. He is renowned for portraying everyday objects in unexpected contexts, using irrational juxtapositions to challenge perceptions of reality and nature.
The short film was shot at Michals’ home in New York, presented in black and white, and includes recurring motifs such as:
- a convex mirror
- a suspended feather
- a crystal ball
In the film, Jacob Elordi recites a poem by Michals, titled the same as the project, which originally appeared in Michals’ 2001 photo book Questions with Answers.
Summary
This collaboration merges surrealist art with fashion, inviting viewers to explore dreamlike realities through Michals’ distinctive visual language and Elordi’s captivating presence.