Industry, Now
ARIELLE BOBB-WILLIS
ARIELLE BOBB-WILLIS
Portrait by Ben Hassett for Models.com
#IndustryNow The cycles of social media impel us to embrace then move on from trends and discourses faster than ever before. The life span of a single work––an editorial, a campaign, a show, a stint––is shorter for it. Fashion’s only unconditional term is the future: operating a year ahead, after all. So, in an industry where change and relevancy are the full stops at the end of every sentence, Models.com wanted to highlight individuals who add permanence to the community–some at their start and some at their top. Photographer Ben Hassett gets up close and personal for Models.com with the creative forces often behind the scenes. They are the Industry, Now.
It used to be a career’s origin was only pored over in years-later hindsight, but as social media became a powerful instrument in magnifying new talent instantaneously, a buzz-worthy career––even at its bud––is watched en masse and in real time. So has been the case for 24-year-old Arielle Bobb-Willis. With only a few published editorials under her belt (like this L’Uomo Vogue cover), yet a long stream of brightly colored, eye-catching images on her Instagram feed, she has built a robust fanbase on her own terms. Arielle is largely a product of the DIY digital era, where the only restriction is to keep posting. What makes this bright young talent distinctive is how assuredly she has defined the terms of her arrival and an audience wanting to watch as she continues to redefine them.
How has the heightened attention to self-image influenced your work and craft?
It has in many ways. I felt when I first got into creating I wanted to take pictures of myself and my story without being in the photos. I’m definitely not one to want to be the center of attention and I’ve definitely felt disconnected from myself before. In the age of having a perfect self-image (and selfie) on Instagram, social media makes it seem like we all know exactly what we’re doing and have our entire lives together 24/7. I thought I was staying true to who I am when creating work where it’s more about the composition and less about what the person looks like or even who they are. It’s about the subject taking away that ego for a second and just creating something great.
What was the turning point in your career?
When I learned that there’s intense power in my imagination and when I put myself first.
Is making beautiful things enough?
Personally, I think the most beautiful part about creating is the process. To me having beautiful work isn’t enough if I didn’t learn or grow while creating it. I’ve always admired artists whose work made me feel multiple emotions and didn’t conform to the standard definition of beauty. Seeing someones internal logic come to life is what keeps me curious and constantly falling in love with photography and art in general.
