Hey Hugo, good to have you on the forum (maybe I should mention some more famous names and see who I can conjure up). I completely agree with you regarding the dichotomy in the States with conservatism getting stronger and yet fashion imagery becoming more and more explicit - it is to be expected though - for every action there will always be an equal and opposite reaction. And, of course, where America goes the rest of the world will follow.
I also completely agree about the elegance of the 60's and 70's - Newton, Jeanloup Sieff, Beaton, Sarah Moon. The imagery today is slick, perfect due to post-production, kind of McFashion. I generalise of course - there are many photographers that don't fit that generalisation - but you get my drift.

In my opinion, as artists, we must look at history, and realize that photography is an incredibly young medium in comparison to painting, sculpture, etc. It is incredibly important to look at the work that was done before, to have a conversation with those that are dead, those that are alive and those that will come after us. Everybodys' work acts as a small building block for an entire medium. Everything is connected. It is my belief that the more one becomes aware of that, the more one becomes apart of the medium itself. It is my belief that any good art needs to be a harmonius relationship between skillful construction and an incredibly intelligent concept. There is a certain aesthetic that derives from this sort of art, and that is elegance.

At this moment, it seems that fashion is following art as usual. The likes of Wolfgang Tillmans, Juergen Teller, etc. hit the art world in the late nineties. Think Sensations. Now, even Saatchi is selling off his shocking collection of British artists and buying painting mostly of the German school. The art world is bored by the Erotic Grotesque.
To be frank, it is played. People want things that are organic, smart and well executed. Let's face it, the west is looking to a reccession. The EEC is in trouble with the constitutional referendums. America has basicaly sold itself to China. Things are getting tougher for people whose debt is becoming higher and higher. In times like these, where the pressure is on, people look to quality, honesty, etc. Perfection, especialy computer generated perfection, will be the great divide.
Will we all begin to live in closet like spaces in infinite metropolisis, living only as avatars in cyber space, or will we turn back, like in the elightenment, entertain spirituality, connect with nature and embrace the beauty of imperfection?
The history of Wabi-Sabi is an interesting one. In Japan, during the Edo period, I believe, Court ceramics were very refined and the times were decadent for the nobles. Then, at a point the court ceramicist went on a trip and stayed with some farmers in the country. He admired the beauty of the crudeness of the peasants pottery. He then brought the pottery, with all of its deformations, back to court. This type of ceramic marks the begining of the Wabi Sabi aethetic. (The beauty of imperfection.) It also led to the toppling of an emperor by his people.

Hi Hugo,

Well I've just been looking at your website. Interesting. Your pyjamas are immaculate - I think that photo is one of my favourites.

I agree about the aesthetic and elegance, and the story of Wabi-sabi is fascinating - and allows an extra dimension to the lecture of your portraits.

But... pyjamas? Jake, Hugo Tillman takes the time to describe some part of the philosophy behind his work, and you come back with immaculate pyjamas! It's taken me an hour to get over it!!

Hahaha. I was totally into pyjamas for a while until my girlfriend stole them.

Just when it seemed to be getting interesting... there's an outbreak of jim-jams! :-) I didn't think anybody bothered with them anymore, but hey, you learn something new everyday right?

Any thoughts on slippers anyone?

I apologiz for the digression.

No problem - I laughed for ages this morning, nothing wrong with that!

dear f:lux, I think you have control freak tendencies. Remember, sometimes it's ok if there's no recipe. Not everything I think about will be disclosed here, in the forum. Perhaps I'm thinking things over. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. :)
dear Hugo, bring on the digressions!