Dear #MATTERtribe,
We’re big on birthdays, and since this one’s our 5th, we wanted to go beyond revelry to commemorate this milestone. To celebrate how far we’ve come, we created a limited range of travel wraps. On one side: a block printed adaptation of one of the 5 signature motifs we began with, on the other: a block printed word that we felt was significant and relevant to a year in our journey. The intention was to make them oversized and flexible for any and all purposes: a shawl for the plane, blanket on overnight trains, cover for rainy days, scarf for colder climates, picnic mat, or even a statement wall hanging piece.
Whatever the purpose, we wanted this to be a tangible representation of our journey together in the last 5 years. Some of you have been a part of our journey since we began, and some of you found kinship in our mission later on – but all of you have joined our story, and for that we are thankful. You’ve made your mark in the community and we know that our story continues with you.
An idea we had, on top of all this, was to have a visual documentation of this creative expression. We wanted to work with 5 photographers whose visuals and philosophy aligned with ours and have them each shoot a Travel Wrap. We started with an intention rooted in provenance, to ask where and why something is made, and by whom. Every print has its own story and in celebrating their heritage, we’ve also come to realise that beauty is often also in the reaction it evokes: the pull of emotion in us. Because of that connectedness, the storytelling becomes more intimate and personal. Which is why we sent 5 photographers a Travel Wrap with the simple brief of shooting a narrative based on their interpretation of the word: styled and photographed with full creative freedom.
LENNEPurposeLenne is a Singaporean photographer and director based in New York. Her work is heavily inspired by the visual elements of colour and form. Her conceptual intentions expand to social issues such as LGBTQIA+ rights in Singapore, as well as the intersection of consumerism and religion.
LUCASBEINGBased in Berlin, Lucas is an art director and photographer. Drawn to the world of nostalgia, he shoots exclusively on film with a focus on intimate portraits framed by natural light.
MUKULEMPATHYMukul is an internationally published and exhibited photographer whose work lies in between the fold of documentary and fine art. He’s documented the diaspora of Hmongs in Tonkinese Alps of Vietnam and the notion of gender in modern India. His photos are a lens into the vulnerable intimacy of everyday moments.
TANIAJOURNEYTania is a Mexican artist who started her photography praxis while studying for her Bachelor’s degree in architecture. Her cinematic photography has deep roots in her fascination with social behavior and contemporary practices like emotional disconnection, and the American dream in the Western world and the psychological sequels they generate in our everyday life.
MARIANNAHOPEMarianna is a Finnish-Indonesian creative based in California. As a writer and photographer, she believes in the beauty of pairing imagery and language and the connection of storytelling. Her photographs walk between the lines of escapism and humanity.