Creating art that is quite literally a religious experience, New York based photographer and fashion devotee Elle Muliarchyk is lately dusting off antiquated Christian iconography, while sidestepping post-modern references, to create “A totally new type of art.” The 24 year old Belarus-born model slash artist, who was discovered by luminary photographer Patrick Demarchelier while sitting in a Manhattan café (and later encouraged by Demarchelier to pursue photography upon viewing her digital snaps), is a fashion obsessive who has become known over the last few years for atmospheric ‘Guerilla’ self-portraits – taken covertly in the dressing rooms of high-end fashion boutiques around the world.
Replacing transient sartorial spaces with the somewhat more austere environs of New York City churches, Muliarchyk is, “Designing new icons,” she explains, by dressing sculptures of famed religious figures in contemporary fashion and accessories – with upcoming works to feature couture creations from as of yet undisclosed world-renowned designers. For her ongoing series, entitled ‘Begotten’, Muliarchyk says she, “Cast the coolest saint sculptures from over 300 churches – having to make the priests fall in love with me so I could photograph them!” The images are to be featured in an upcoming issue of TAR Magazine, as well as in a photo-book to be released later this year and several solo exhibitions throughout the US – one of which will be sponsored by the Vatican.
“My goal is to create not just beautiful images, but a new universal language that resurrects these amazing saints and their incredible stories,” explains Muliarchyk emphatically, “And what symbol is more recognisable to us today than a coveted designer's creation?” Born into the secular communist state of Belarus, Muliarchyk was overwhelmed by the “fantastical icons of Christianity,” she discovered upon moving to the US as a late teen, “and the fascinating Saints and Martyrs whose achievements and terrible scandals would make today’s Pop icons like Kate Moss seem terribly boring.” The logical step following such an epiphanic spiritual moment, of course, was for Muliarchyk to generate her own pop iconography that, she says, “Girls like me who love art, fashion and tabloids can worship and adore.” Though perhaps not quite a new religion, Muliarchyk is bound to attract a cult following.