This project explores the tiny border that exists between the collector and the fetishist.
For this, sneaker fans were asked to pose with their favorite pair. The shooting was accompanied by a conversation to make them comfortable and to learn more about their love for these shoes.
At the end of the interview, the theme of fetishism was approached. If the majority has never thought of it, they admit that their passion can sometimes seem out of the ordinary. And if we define fetishism as a cult of something, everyone recognizes it at least a little.
Each of us has a special relationship to sneakers, whether we are indifferent, fetishist, collector, sports(wo)man or fashion enthusiast.
An even more special practice in the midst of sneakerheads but not only, is the selfeet (self-portrait limited to the bottom of the pants and shoes). A part of the project was to produce hybrids of selfeet. Looking closer, they are not self-portraits because we see the hands of the protagonists. We can perceive several levels of reading: a collector will probably notice a model he does not have, a fetishist will be troubled by the model in question and some will see just a pair of sports shoes…
exhibited / exposé @ La Médiatine, Brussels, Belgium, 2015
exhibited / exposé @ Galerie LSB, Montreal, Canada, 2015
exhibited / exposé @ Crédit municipal de la ville de Paris, Paris, France, 2016
Check out "KICKS" from Andrew Burnett, a documentary about the "It's gotta be da shoes" project.