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Surreal Dream: Step into a New World with Katerina Perez
Whether you’re whisked into the world of Salvador Dalí or immersed in the mind of René Magritte, Surrealism is an undeniable source of creative inspiration. Here, I step into a new guise as a surrealist muse, adorned with high jewels and emboldened by quirky camera techniques by my talented friend and photographer, Ksenia Usacheva. Let’s enter a dreamworld together…
From the moment the idea of a surrealist jewellery photoshoot crossed my mind, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I imagined mirrors with unexpected reflections, dripping diamond tears, hall-of-mirrors camera effects, and even magnifying glasses! Below, you will see the results of this creative project, which was a collaboration between myself, photographer Ksenia Usacheva and make-up artist Alina Sotskaia. I would also like to thank the jewellers who so generously donated their pieces to be featured in this editorial. I’m sure you will agree that their outlandish, colourful and contrasting jewels are the perfect focal points for these surreal shots!
Maison Édéenne Summer necklace with Mohave turquoise and tsavorites on an ebony and gold branch.
Lydia Courteille Maracaibo cuff in 18k gold with white diamonds, brown diamonds, 1,294 tsavorites and 11 Paraiba tourmalines.
Lydia Courteille Maracaibo cuff in 18k gold with white diamonds, brown diamonds, 1,294 tsavorites and 11 Paraiba tourmalines.
Elie Top Medium Emerald Sphere ring and the Medium Ruby Sphere ring, both in gold and distressed silver with diamonds (top), Diamond Dorsal ring and the Diamond Dorsal Double ring (bottom hand) in yellow and rose gold and distressed silver with diamonds, and the Dorsal cuff in yellow gold and distressed silver with yellow gold wire detailing
Maison Édéenne Epiphany necklace with a Paraíba tourmaline of 11.60 carats, further Paraiba tourmalines, diamonds and pearls, set in platinum.
Maison Édéenne Epiphany necklace with a Paraiba tourmaline of 11.60 carats, further Paraiba tourmalines, diamonds and pearls, set in platinum.
Lydia Courteille Pagoda earrings in 18k gold and titanium with 452 rubies of 14.95 carats, two rubellites and two jades
Lydia Courteille Pagoda earrings in 18k gold and titanium with 452 rubies of 14.95 carats, two rubellites and two jades, with one worn on the finger.
Lydia Courteille Pagoda earrings in 18k gold and titanium with 452 rubies of 14.95 carats, two rubellites and two jades.
Cocktail rings by Isabelle Langlois, including a ring with amethyst, tsavorites and pink sapphires from the Plumage collection (top), an Emotion collection ring with a Rose de France amethyst, peridot, pink sapphire, tourmaline and tsavorite (middle), and a third ring with rubellite, diamonds, pink sapphires and iolites from the Shéhérazade collection (bottom).
Cocktail rings by Isabelle Langlois, including a ring with amethyst, tsavorites and pink sapphires from the Plumage collection (top), an Emotion collection ring with a Rose de France amethyst, peridot, pink sapphire, tourmaline and tsavorite (middle), and a third ring with rubellite, diamonds, pink sapphires and iolites from the Shéhérazade collection (bottom).
Lydia Courteille aquamarine ring (top), Lydia Courteille Marie Antoinette ring in 18k white gold with 125 sapphires of 5.55 carat, three aquamarines, and blue enamel (middle), Brigitte Ermel TOSCA ring with 2.67 carats of diamonds and a 15.36 carat pear-cut aquamarine in white gold (bottom), plus a Brigitte Ermel 8 Double ring (gloved hand) with a 12.85-carat emerald-cut emerald and diamonds in white gold
WORDS
Ksenia Usacheva is a Paris-based photographer. Her artistic journey began in Russia, where she attended art school from a young age. She took up photography in 2009, followed by studies in Graphic Design in Florence in 2012. In 2014, she graduated from the international photography school Spéos in Paris, and in 2018, earned a Master of Arts degree from Sorbonne University. She has since collaborated with luxury fashion houses, high jewellery brands, and leading publications across Europe. Her work is celebrated for its painterly elegance, rich colour palette, and dreamlike compositions. A long-time collaborator with Katerina Perez, Ksenia also teaches photography in Paris and continues to explore new visual narratives through her distinctive lens.
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