MACHAS

Kaia Gerber by Ricardo Fumanal for the cover of i-D Magazine

Fashion and illustration symbiotic relationship has always been instrumental in creating iconic imagery and championing artistic talent, and the latest collaboration between Ricardo Fumanal and i-D follows in the same path. 

Working with i-D’s Editor-in-Chief Alastair McKimm, Ricardo crafted a portrait of fashion icon Kaia Gerber, interpreting an image taken by photographer Willy Vanderperre.

Staying true to his hyper-realistic style with a surreal twist, Ricardo created a hand-drawn monochrome portrait of a playful Kaia, demonstrating once again his exquisite technique. The Artwork strikes with its elegance and the surprising use of negative space.

In an interview with writer Dan Thawley, published in the same issue, Ricardo explains that because he was “working with Willy’s image of Kaia, I saw myself no longer as the creator but rather the collaborator. Keen to respect the subject matter and environment so beautifully established, while finding a way to disrupt the image with my imagined new dynamic and tension.”

When asked about the female form behind the protagonist, Ricardo explains: “I would imagine some people could possibly see it as a new woman who is invading Kaia’s space, while others might see it as an alter-ego or maybe a projection of Kaia? To be honest, I prefer to leave it open to the viewer’s interpretation.”

The interview was accompanied by a series of black & white photographs taken in Ricardo’s Parisian studio by Ian Kenneth Bird.

Gracing the cover of the hardback edition of The Icons and Idols Issue, Ricardo’s stunning Artwork turned the Spring 2020 issue into a truly unique, sought after collectable book. To celebrate its launch, Ricardo was joined by Kaia Gerber and Alastair McKimm for a book signing session during Paris Fashion Week.

See more of Ricardo’s work here.