Arte & Marni: Post-Photography artist Robin Lopvet talks about his latest collaboration

Guilherme Ferrari | 3 Marzo 2020

Words by / gferrari____ /

From engineering science to image editing and music producing, Robin Lopvet is a multi-talented creative who knows how to adapt to any context. His works mixes “serious parodies”, fun and the unexpected. Having recently collaborated with Marni, he gives us a peak into his process of ‘mixing things together’ to create art, fashion and music, and also about what influences his works.

You started your studies in engineering science and then decided to study photography and arts. What made you decide to go through this change?

I love the way science works but I realised designing motors and stuff wouldn't add something necessary to the society.  Art was the only exit door in accordance with my values.

What would you like to see develop more artistically today in fashion?

Fashion will always be inspired by art in any forms. But what i would like to see fashion develop would be more political than artistic. 

I would like to see more models that have casual bodies. Everyone can be stylish and it would be great to represent the diversity of bodies into fashion, in a way the public could identify. And of course stop to use underage models.

What influenced your work as an artist and how would you describe it?

Internet culture has a huge part of influence in my work. I also really like the Dada movement, as an attitude, and the book "Idiocy" by Jean-Yves Jouannais is like my bible. I like to put some fun and pop in my creations but with a dreadfull side. The strength of the scary laugh. I call it a serious parody.

How is your creative process and how do you direct your work into fashion?

My creative process is pretty improvised. I just look at things and think how I can modify them, what I can amplify, what could make sense if I mix it with. I don't put a lot of reflexion before to make pictures but after I created things I throw away a part of what I did to keep just what makes more sense.  I leave some space to let unexpected things happen. I work a lot as a digital photo editor for fashion. Maybe it influenced my personal work in a way.  I don't have a lot of knowledges in clothes and fashion in general, but I feel my universe fits well with it. 

You work with some kind of irony as well. How would you describe your vision? Is there a recurrent theme on your works?

I wouldn't describe it as ironic. Using irony means you don't know if you are serious or not. I use more sincerity. I am pretty serious making jokes.

I always distort, remix, cut and reassemble. I believe collage is the only way to create. Anything comes from something. You don't create from total chaos. I like to document the transformation from a consumer society to a "recycling" society.

How important was Paris for your career?

France is really centralised so I guess Paris is a mandatory step. I really love this city for its good and bad points. I met a lot of people there, and I still work there.

You recently collaborated with Marni, how was that?

It was perfect! They let me completely free to do what I wanted. I really like the choice of their models and the ambiance of their collection perfectly fit with my universe. I'm really happy about this collaboration.

You also work producing music and as a DJ. How do you see that influencing your art, and how do you conciliate doing everything?

It's for me kind of the same process with music and pictures. Mix things together, create a narrative. It's just another langage. I have a music label with friends for five years now, Club Late Music, we do a lot about open-source and collaborative music. Sometimes I do music videos too. It's always productive to go out your comfort zone and try differents things.