BROTHERHOOD

“I want to share with my brother the biggest lesson dad taught me, which is trying to be close to what we really are,” says Parker van Noord, 21, son of Andre van Noord, the famous Dutch model who passed away last November. Parker has been photographed by Annemarieke van Drimmelen and is portrayed here alongside his 11-year-old brother Korneel for the first t ime. Theirs i s a story of brotherhood that gives meaning to a sense of loss. In the backdrop is Europe with water flowing through it – a natural, neutral element that connects and brings people together, but that is also a boundary defining the continent. Water, in fact, allows visitors to reach and discover Europe, with its many differences and similarities. Parker’s generation sees this connection as a given. “There is such a big cultural exchange between countries here, and it’s really beautiful to see how all European cultures adapt and learn from one another,” he says. At age 14, he made his first exploratory forays into the fashion world, following in his father’s footsteps. “I remember starting our journey very young. They were moments of joy but also really educational.” From the first feature they did together, for a Dutch magazine, father and son shared this profession and made for a unique modelling duo. They were often shot together for fashion campaigns and the most famous magazines in the world, and they walked the runway together in 2015 for Umit Benan. Andre and Parker became a symbol of how generations can come together. “My dad taught me how to be comfortable with myself in front of the camera,” remembers Parker. Whether he continues his journey alone or with his brother, now he is the one who has to lead the way.

Antonio Privitera