Dazed community member Lisa Michalik’s amphibian-inspired make-up is a tribute to the mysteries that surround us. In an otherworldly new shoot, she ”showcases the transformative power of unique and unexpected elements” in nature.
Working alongside photographer Kevin Drelon, Michalik took inspiration from the diverse beauty of nature and channeled it into reptilian looks that are unsettling, even while being visually striking. It’s a combination that is key to much of the make-up artist’s work. ”Today we no longer have any limits, beauty can be virtual, ugly, speckled, connected, sublime, or even controversial. We can all create beauty. We just have to know how to observe it and realise it,” Michalik told Dazed in 2020, while discussing the inspiration behind her grotesque and alluring grills.
For this shoot, she focused on texture, using pearl-like beads – which almost evoke the satisfying slime of frogspawn – to frame and extenuate the eyes. ”We experimented with a variety of materials, including iridescent fabrics, intricate metallic embellishments and translucent textures,” Michalik says. While framing the eyes is usually the role of the eyebrows, here they were bleached in order to create a fantasy similar to the reptile’s idle stare. Alongside Drelon’s illuminating photography, ”these elements were combined to create looks that gave the illusion of a second skin, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy”.
The shoot produces striking images to remind us of the beauty in nature and how unconventional this can seem on the surface. ”Our aim was to push boundaries and explore new possibilities while staying open to the inspiration that surrounds us,” Michalik tells Dazed, hoping the photos resonate with viewers and inspire a sense of intrigue. ”Our intention is to challenge conventional ideas of beauty and encourage individuals to embrace and celebrate their unique features,” she tells us. ”We want people to feel encouraged to explore new forms of beauty and to appreciate the visual diversity that exists around us.”
