More photos from a canceled Balenciaga campaign are being questioned today over the notoriety of a book honoring a Belgian artist whose work includes images of castrated babies.
Two photos from the brand’s now defunct Spring ’23 ad campaign show French actress Isabelle Huppert posing in a Manhattan office with a stack of books behind her.
Among the books is one fourth Belgian painter Michael Borremans. Borremans’ work is varied, but children make regular appearances. His 2017/2018 Fire from the Sun series features a group of young children, some with blood stains on their skin, in an eerie composition.
In some photos, the toddlers look sterilized.
Balenciaga insists The brand’s designs were never inspired by Borremans and the two have no connection.
In this image from Balenciaga’s discarded Spring ’23 campaign, Isabelle Huppert sits in front of a stack of books, including one celebrating Michael Borremans, a Belgian painter whose work is known for depicting castrated babies.
Artist Michael Borremans shows his work in January 2020 in Prague. Right, one of the books with his works
“There are no links whatsoever between Balenciaga and Borremans … none of the suggestions are factual,” Robin Meason, Balenciaga’s global PR director, told DailyMail.com.
But there are other obvious similarities between Borreman’s work and some of Balenciaga’s past designs — namely Kim’s look at the 2021 Met Gala, where she appeared with black fabric covering her face.
Book images of his work were quickly removed from the fashion brand’s website this week following the BDSM teddy bear controversy.
These images showed small child models posing the bears – which are basically fluffy handbags – around glassware.
In a statement on Monday, the brand again apologized for the bear action and took full responsibility.
“We would like to address the controversies surrounding our recent advertising campaigns. We strongly condemn child abuse; we never intended to include it in our history.
“The two separate advertising campaigns in question reflect a series of serious mistakes for which Balenciaga accepts responsibility.
“The first campaign, the gift collection campaign, featured children with teddy bear bags in what some described as BDMS-inspired outfits. Our soft bear bags and gift collection should not be placed near children.
Borremans’ other work includes his 2017 series Fire From The Sun, in which sterilized toddlers and babies hold what look like severed limbs as they play together naked in a large group.
Borremans’ Fire From The Sun series is his most graphic, with images of young children with blood on their skin
This is the book that is supposed to be seen at the office photo shoot. On the cover is a woman with her face covered in black. Pictured right, Kim Kardashian’s 2021 Balenciaga Met Gala look, where she covered her face with a black scarf.
Balenciaga’s recent statement acknowledges the teddy bear scandal, for which she takes responsibility, and the SCOTUS child pornography ruling, seen in another photo, but makes no mention of Borremans’ book
“This was a wrong decision by Balenciaga along with our failure to review and validate images. The responsibility for this lies solely with Balenciaga.
But the fashion house claims another controversial prop that ended up on set – an expression of a SCOTUS child pornography ruling – was the fault of design production company North Six.
The second, separate Spring 2023 campaign, designed to mimic a corporate office environment, featured a photo with a page in the background of a Supreme Court ruling outlawing the promotion of child pornography and not protected by free speech not. .
“All items used in this filming were provided by third parties who have confirmed in writing that these props are forged office documents.
These turned out to be genuine legal documents, most likely from the filming of a television drama.
“The inclusion of these unauthorized documents was the result of gross negligence, for which Balenciaga filed a complaint.
“We take full responsibility for our lack of background checks and document control and could have done things differently.”
Balenciaga’s lawyers filed a lawsuit against North Six and set designer Nicholas Des Jardins last week, claiming they were responsible.
Balenciaga pulled BDSM bears, wine and champagne glasses this Christmas campaign after widespread backlash
This is the July ad campaign reprinting the SCOTUS ruling on child pornography
Des Jardins’ agent said he was considered a scapegoat and that several Balenciaga employees were present at the time of the shooting.
Others in the fashion industry agree.
Balenciaga creative director Demna Gvasalia. He has not yet made a personal statement
Granary, which was founded by students from Central Saint Martins to represent talent in the fashion industry, condemned Balenciaga’s response.
“Only responsibility if it’s successful – that seems to be Balenciaga’s mantra this week.
They want us to believe that Demna is the all-seeing divine genius who personally makes every creative decision in-house…but when a campaign is rightfully canceled, those remote workers are suddenly to blame.
“True leaders take responsibility. For their team’s mistakes and their own,” they said.
In the filing, Balenciaga’s lawyers blame the studio – which he has used several times in the past – for the controversy, without mentioning the bear controversy from earlier this week.
“As a result of the defendants’ misconduct, members of the public, including the news media, falsely and egregiously associated Balenciaga with the repulsive and deeply disturbing subject matter of the court’s decision,” court documents state.
“The defendants will be liable to Balenciaga for any damages arising from this false association.”
The brand is now being boycotted by a handful of famous customers.
Kim Kardashian, the prolific ambassador who is friends with creative director Demna Gvasalia, said she was “disgusted” by the images and would “re-evaluate” her relationship with the brand.
Demna has not spoken out personally since the controversy broke out.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
