Credits to all Imagery:
Photography / Turkina Faso
Style / Anastasia Rasschupkina
Make up / Ksenia Shostko
Hair / Adelina Umarova
Models / Ilina @ President Management Moscow & Mary Bel
Written by
PAULA BLANCO LONGA
Turkina Faso’s Naiads embodies the spirit of this OPALUS Extraterrestrial Issue. “Something as beautiful and intriguing as the mysteries of outer space”.
Anastasia Rasschupkina sensibility for textures translates these water nymphs mythical attributes into gorgeous new attires: soft knitted sweaters for their long floating manes,light reflecting fabrics for their scales. In Faso’s and Rasschupkina’s extraterrestrial imagination these water creatures are no longer bound by nets. They wear them. As scarves, sleeves and skirts; as armour.
Romantic and soft at times, poised and gold others. Fakoshima’s retro sunglasses seems to bring us out of the water and with this Vera Kulshitskaya‘s dress, we are suddenly presented with a otherworldly Audrey Hepburn held in space by lights. Queen of this alien realm, in between water and outer space.
We had the pleasure of chatting with the incredibly talented Anastasia Rasschupkina about her styling for this shoot and process as an artist:
OPALUS
Your styling is so inspiring to us. We are so proud to have your work on the cover of the "Extraterrestrial issue"! Please tell us THE inspiration behind this series, “Naiads”.
ANASTASIA
Thank you for the warm words, my pleasure working with you! Water spaces and ocean creatures always were mesmerizing to me. A lot of inspiration comes from accent mythology and fairy tales about mermaids and Naiads (The Greek word is Ναϊάς).
I always been fascinated by idea of half human half aquatic creatures. Also drawing inspiration from photographers such as Alix Malka, Elena Kalis and Phoebe Rudomino.
OPALUS
What challenges do you face, if any, when styling an underwater shoot?
ANASTASIA
The main challenge we faced was finding a space and a model who swam well, as it is very hard physically. Also it was a bit challenging to convince designers that water wouldn't ruin their pieces (which it didn't).
OPALUS
Are we correct to say you work from London and in Russia?
ANASTASIA
Correct. I was doing my BA in Fashion styling in London, but this particular shoot was produced in Moscow while I was there on holidays. But the time has passed and I moved from Greater London to the West Coast to continue my studies.
OPALUS
Do you have a favourite image from the series?
ANASTASIA
I like all the images from that series, but maybe the most mysterious image for me would be one with the floating hand-woven net.
OPALUS
Did you take any training for the arts? How long have you been stying for?
ANASTASIA
I’m trained as a painter and sculptor, but received degree in BA hons Fashion Styling. (This shoot was produced during my last semester in school)
OPALUS
What are your favorite color(s) right now? Do your favorite color(s) change or are they quite consistent?
ANASTASIA
My all time favorites are white and black. Right now i have blue and orange colours on top of my own rating. The colour preferences definitely vary during different stages of my creative journey.
OPALUS
If you could manifest the ideal place for you to create in, what would it look like?
ANASTASIA
Oh my...I can write the whole page here, but briefly: It should be bright, spacious, top floor studio with very high ceilings an lots of natural light. Somewhere close to where I live at the moment.
OPALUS
Do you listen to music while you create?
ANASTASIA
Yes. I always play music on sets. Usually I start with chill, relaxing and often classical music. Then I switch to something like nu-groove jazz, and finally turn to more rhythmic and fast music such as techno, electronic or deep house.
OPALUS
What is your beverage of choice while creating?
ANASTASIA
Caffeine in all possible forms. Usually coffee or green tea.
OPALUS
If we could get a glimpse into the land of your imagination, what would it look like?
ANASTASIA
Magical, dark-blue forest, with lots of water, mist and dim light. Where magical and bioluminescent creatures live.
OPALUS
What is your favourite type of shoot to style?
ANASTASIA
Non commercial editorial story, where i have freedom for creativity. Hate being limited.
OPALUS
What can we expect from you next?
ANASTASIA
Even I am not sure what will happen next...But right now I am receiving my MFA at SFAI and exploring myself.
Enjoy all the images from Niads by enjoying the issue below: