Markus - Icons: The Celebrity Exposures of Markus and Indrani

ICONS

Two of photographys biggest talents...

AMERICAN PHOTO

At the forefront of contemporary photography...

NOWNESS

Photography duo Markus Klinko and Indrani have become notorious for producing iconic images...

ARENA

Its a powerful dream visionseamless, erotic, unforgettable... the work of two contemporary masters.

THE MASTERS

ICONS

MARKUS KLINKO

&

INDRANI PAL-CHAUDHURI

WITH CINDY DE LA HOZ

FOREWORDS BY

IMAN & FERN MALLIS

2012 by Markus Klinko and Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri

Published by Running Press,

A Member of the Perseus Books Group

All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions

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ISBN 978-0-7624-4693-3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012945805

987654321

Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing

Designed by Joshua McDonnell

Typography: Lato and Avenir

Running Press Book Publishers

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Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371

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www.runningpress.com

Behind the scenes photography credits:

: Mark Sebastian

: Kaitlyn Barlow

, center: Alex Bauzon

To our greatest inspirations and supporters: Hedwig and Albert Klinko; Ajay Pal-Chaudhuri and Greta Thompson; GK Reid and Sora Akizuki Reid; David Bowie, Beyonc Knowles, Daphne Guinness, and Lady Gaga; and to the memory of Isabella Blow.

For the cover of my first book, I Am Iman, I wanted a photographer who could bring something new to the table, something different from the many thousands of images that had been taken of me since I began modeling in the late 70s. I found the answer was not one photographer but two artists working in perfect tandemMarkus and Indrani. Though it was early in their career, I had seen enough of their work to know that they could produce the transformative image I wanted to strip away all artifice and take me from the supermodel Iman that the world knew back into the girl from Somalia that I still was inside. Markus and Indrani succeeded in creating the beautifully raw image I wanted to evoke memories of the past that had taken me to my present.

There are very few photographers in our industry who work as a team, and Markus and Indrani are truly a dynamite duo. As a model, the closest comparison I can draw to their process is how a fashion designer works with their muse to bring a work of art to life. Feeling that synergy of collaboration between photographer and subject is a rare commodity. Markus and Indrani do their research ahead of time and come to each shoot with a vision, one in which they allow their subjects to move freely. From the fashions, to the hair and makeup, to the pose, while working with Markus and Indrani you can almost imagine what will take form. As a muse before their lens you become totally engaged in the artistry of bringing a fantasy to life.

Markus and Indrani elevate the art of photography by producing elevated versions of life. If its a fashion shot, you can see how every stitch of a garment becomes important. If its a celebrity shoot they reveal a personal side of those whom the public adores without ever truly knowing them. Thats the power of photography.

I have worked with Markus and Indrani many times and have always been excited to see where immersion in their artistic fantasy will lead next. They have proven to have a gift for producing iconic, ever-lasting photos. I am proud to open this glorious assemblage of Markus and Indranis photography.

Markus and Indrani are a remarkable team, personally and professionally.

Together they have produced some of the most enduring, beautiful, and iconic images of the celebrities of our time. With masterful lighting and imaginative sets and propsand sometimes without any background at allthey manage to bring out something in these people that actually explains who they are. With their images we can visually understand their passion, feel their soul, know what makes them tick, and ultimately what makes them interesting to us. Markus and Indrani provide a peek inside a celebritys personality. Ultimately, these images sell a celebrity to the publicthe person, perhaps even more than the product they are endorsing.

Markus and Indrani have a clear and focused aesthetic which comes from a uniquely collaborative process. When two talented, special people who lived together, loved together, and now work together, come together in a studio or on an exotic location for a few hours or a full days shoot, they challenge each other to bring on their best shot. They create images that last a lifetime, and that can launch a new scent or sell millions of albums.

Markus and Indranis body of work over the past eighteen years tells a story of our time, of our culture. This is a worthy time capsule for future generations to see what was happening on planet Earth these past couple decades.

Indrani: In a world where authenticity is an autograph and reality a genre of TV, our images provide society a mirror to reflect upon its ideals and devotions. We seek to reveal those qualities that make our subjects extraordinary: their personality, aura, beauty, and power. As multi-media artists who embrace collaboration with creative partners opposing viewpoints, our work embodies a multiplicity of perspectives. We come together through love and communication, collaborating closely with our subjects, to understand them and be inspired by their reality, their fantasies, and artistry. We empower them to move freely through our multiple exposures, which we combine for their truest expression, movement, and being.

As a photography duo Markus and Indrani have a very unique relationship. They often have opposing perspectives and come to shoots with completely different ideas; yet through their creative process, and in collaboration with all of the artists involved, on each shoot they find harmony not only with the images theyre creating but with each other. Markus: Its all about collaboration for us. We find that when we have created an image that we both love from our opposite points of view, that image appeals to the widest audience of viewers. No one is higher than anyone else in terms of the ability to have ideas. We encourage our subjects to experiment and explore their own ideas as well, to reveal their real personalities.

Indrani: The lens captures a slice of reality in a way that can be symbolic of the whole. I seek to convey reality in a way that is iconic and unforgettable. Its not beauty that really captivates the viewer but connection and communication. I believe that everything in the universe is connected. You can define that connectedness in many different ways depending on your background and your belief system. There are moments when you feel that you connect with the subject of a photograph or film, when you feel you really understand that person. Take, for example, our photo of Beyonc that was used on the cover of her album