At the just concluded 77th Venice Film Festival, the focus of the public was not only on the participating and award-winning films, but also on how celebrities participated in the event in the most stylish way to fight the epidemic. Among the myriad of red carpet mask styles, Tilda Swinton, who was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award this year, received unanimous praise for her artistic metal mask at the opening ceremony! Everyone is searching to find out where this metal mask, which breaks the beauty standard and perfectly presents Tilda Swinton’s aloof aura, came from!
Tilda Swinton’s metal face mask is not a bespoke piece tailored by a fashion brand for her, but rather the work of an artist named James Merry. James Merry, born in the UK, studied Ancient Greek at the prestigious Oxford University. Apart from his strong interest in ancient civilizations, he also has a passion for embroidery and weaving. Now based in Iceland, he combines his various interests to focus on artistic creation.
James Merry’s artistic creations can be roughly divided into two main types. He loves embroidery and often reimagines different brands’ logo tees by adding abundant botanical embroidery to the familiar logos. He transforms commercial clothing into pieces full of a fresh and delicate aesthetic!
Apart from embroidery, mask design is James Merry’s specialty and most well-known work! He has created numerous mysterious and artistic masks for Icelandic singer Björk. His mask designs are imaginative, not limited by material characteristics, cleverly combining elements such as pearls, metal, plastic, embroidery, etc., to create gorgeous and futuristic masks.
James Merry designed masks for Tilda Swinton at the Venice Film Festival inspired by fish bones, orchids, and seaweed, creating two sleek three-dimensional masks with metal and pearls. The extravagant and dignified appearance complements Tilda Swinton’s lofty status and ethereal temperament, making it the most talked-about and unforgettable champion look at this year’s Venice Film Festival!
