EDITOR’S LETTER
Exploring the shared landscape of fashion and art has always been at the heart of Bazaar ; yet in this issue, published in the month that the world’s artists, patrons, gallerists and curators converge on London, the theme is even more central to our own creative endeavours. Hence our partnerships and collectable covers with the city’s leading cultural institutions – including the Barbican, the Hayward Gallery and the Royal Academy, which is the setting for one of our painterly fashion stories.
But our profound engagement with art extends beyond the features in this and every other edition of Bazaar. We are committed to curating events and private views during Bazaar Art Week (and throughout the year); and equally loyal in our support and celebration of those who are themselves dedicated to artistic expression. It takes great courage to create – far more so than to be destructive – and in an era when we are riven with political divisions, it seems to me that making art is an act of hope in the future. Which is not to say that art must express optimism – indeed, as I know from personal experience, it is when one is engulfed by grief or loss that the poetry of suffering offers solace; for in this way, we know that we are not alone. Reading a writer who articulates one’s own emotions can be like hearing a voice in the darkness, or feeling a hand reaching out in understanding, when all else seems lost.
Thus, in Bazaar, we are proud to publish the most distinctive authors and artists – the ones who are unafraid to reveal their truest selves, to stand up and say: ‘This is what I feel, and I share it with you.’ And having had the privilege of being the editor of Bazaar for more than seven years, I, too, have learnt what it means to stand up for what I believe in, and to do so with the support and inspiration of a brilliant editorial team and a group of remarkable contributors, who share my commitment to liberty and a love of storytelling.
For storytelling is what brings us together, rather than tearing us apart – whether in the songs of Joni Mitchell, whose lyrics and paintings we feature this month; or the extraordinary performances of our cover star Olivia Colman, an actress with a rare ability to convey the most intense emotions, while never losing her nuanced sensitivity and compassion.
Joni Mitchell’s ‘Shadows and Light’ is playing through my mind as I write; and her music has been the soundtrack in our office, as the Bazaar team created these pages together. And so it seems right to dedicate this to her, and to everyone who believes, as we do, in recognising the power of darkness, while also cherishing freedom and delight.