Benah – Living | Light from Ben Briand on Vimeo.
Film-maker Ben Briand and Brenda Harvey, of accessories label Benah, have an enviable creative relationship. Without communicating explicitly, the pair are able to interpret the energy of each other’s work and collaborate effortlessly. Having created an eight-minute short film and photographic series for Benah’s Spring/Summer 09/10 campaign Castor & Pollux, Ben has once again pulled on the director’s cap to bring Brenda’s Spring/Summer 2011 Campaign Living|Light to life. We spoke with both of them about the collection and their collaboration.
We last spoke with you about your collaboration on Castor & Pollux, how was your creative relationship forged? What has changed (or stayed the same) since that collaboration?
Ben Briand: It has become even more trusting and less spoken about. I think that there is a deep respect for what each other does, so we both always know that the other has their thoughts together. There is an unsaid feeding of ideas and imagery that sometimes goes on between us that is becoming more unique and even less verbalised. It just happens. Recently, I found a number of images and sent them to Brenda without knowing what her next collection was about and apparently they were exactly what was going through her mind. It seems to work well because we think in two different mediums. I guess that subconscious connection is an extension of our relationship.
Brenda Harvey: Each project brings different challenges and successes and the more we work together the better it gets. For personal and brand creative growth, I find this exciting and satisfying.
Working with Ben is always an easy decision. He ‘gets me’ and my creative vision, but brings to the table a whole different set of ideas and values. The fact we are able to work separately on our own projects and then come together, brings a fresh individual point of view to the collaborations which is amazing. We trust and respect each other, which is essential to any healthy relationship.
How would you describe the Living|Light collection? What inspired you as you worked on it?
BH: I was interested in the idea that humans tend to take the simplest things and make them complicated. That we can’t just live with simplicity and its beauty, and that we seem to always make everything complicated. I wanted to explore where this is a good thing as opposed to a bad thing, which is rare.
The name living/light has a double meaning; Living life in a light simple manner or the actual complicated living life force of light. It’s about light being viewed in a positive and negative way, which ties back to the quote at the beginning of the look book:
No matter how fast light travels, it finds that darkness has always got there first and is waiting for it – Terry Pratchett
It can been taken in two different ways, it just depends on how the reader interprets ‘darkness’. As something that is negative and overwhelming, an end? Or a stillness that promotes a new beginning, like the night is to day.
By using the most simple shapes of a stripe and a spot, the scarf patterns – while looking relatively simple when laid flat – when worn, take on a whole new meaning and life in a really good way. The bags have very simple structural shapes, but have small design details like the pyramid studs, a hidden zip, or different ways to wear straps (like with the back pack). I used simple, earthy colours like fawn, tan, grey, black and navy, and then gave them beautiful lacquered hardware in brushed gold and gunmetal. Really simple clean hardware against the different texture of leather and canvas I think works really nicely.
Architecture continues to be a major influence. The way light and glass is used to create space and texture and essentially ‘life’ to the structure is something that I will continue to come back to time and time again.
The Living|Light film has a distinctly ethereal feel, what were your inspirations for this aesthetic? Would you say this is common among all your work, or was it a choice made specifically for this collection?
BB: The aesthetic inspiration always comes from the core philosophical concept of Brenda’s range, this time being the idea of light coming from a dark place. That juxtaposition created the very light imagery, yet complex and heavy mood. I like to head into the ethereal space with a lot of my work, I can’t help it, that’s where all the interesting things happen. Especially in cinema!
You’ve done a lot of work for labels, companies and brands, how does this differ from (for example) the shorts and music videos you make? Do you approach them in the same way?
BB: Whether it is a personal film, commercial or clip, all projects are approached quite simply from the standpoint of: is there the potential to do something that is personally interesting here?. I am, however, more disciplined when I work with labels and brands. If the idea is strong, then it can be a wonderful anchor from which I can work in a highly productive way. I do have trouble if there is little room to bring my own personality to the project. Unfortunately my cinematic ideas are just too strong at times and they don’t let me lay down for the client if I feel the idea could be made better. It gets me into trouble sometimes.
What are you working on now/next?
BB: My first feature is humming along. I am in the development stage, doing re-writes on the next draft. Writing is so exciting on some days and can be a bitch on others. Other than that, I have just signed onto something nice in the States with some influential people, so perhaps a bit of passport stamp action…..who knows?
BH: Living|Light has been so well received, which is great motivation and inspiration for moving forward. Benah will be constantly evolving but staying true to it’s core aesthetic. I hope to expand each category within the range, but really believe in doing one thing and doing it well, so accessories will be my core focus for the moment. On a larger note, I am looking to expand into the European and American markets. I think the next year or two will be extremely busy with a few surprises which I am really looking forward too.
