Set in the 23rd Century, Logan’s Run depicts this idealistic society of perfection and pleasure. The computer assigns Logan 5 to find and destroy ‘Sanctuary’, initiating Logan to become a runner. The lighting, dialogue and composition of this scene, where the computer interrogates Logan and scanning his mind, inspired the ideas of stylised malfunctioning and structure.
Kylie Minogue’s music video, Slow, was directed by Baillie Walsh and choreographed by Michael Rooney. The video was shot in Barcelona, Spain, at Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc swimming pool, a site built for the 1992 Olympic games. The Helmut Newton stylised synchronised sun bathing of sun worshipers coming to life, mixed with the Barcelona city scape backdrop encapsulated the feeling the SS14 collection needed to represent. The elements movement, water and heat were all key references in the early stages of the initial research ideas.
London Menswear designer Benjamin Bertram’s Spring/Summer 2014 collection is a futuristic vision inspired by the film adaptation of the novel Logan’s Run, released in 1976.
The film Starring Michael York depicts a vision into how the world might look in 2116, a dystrophic ageist future society in which both population and the consumption of resources are maintained in equilibrium by requiring the death of everyone reaching a particular age and the world dictated by a computer system. Logan’s purpose in life is to track down and kill citizens who “run” from society’s lethal demand—only to end up “running” himself. Using this as a starting point for research, key text such as; ‘There is no sanctuary’, ‘Your Surrogates are engaged’ and ‘Identity affirmed’ were used to define key imagery within the research.
From this a visit to Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia, Spain, provided key visual references for design through architectural lines, a collection of awe inspiring buildings inspired by their purpose.
The result is a collection formed around clean lines and structured silhouettes, with layers working together to create the overall look. Cut out details, shaped hem lines and wrap over’s mixed with stark woven fabrics create a modernistic menswear collection.
Clothing By – Benjamin Bertram
Photographer – Chris Harris
Hair & Make-Up – Katy Short
Stylist – Sylvester Yiu
Assistant – Grace Conti
Model – Finn Donnelly
Shoes – solestruck
There is no sanctuary.
Ciutat de les Arta i les Ciències is a modern architectural complex in Valencia, Spain. The individual asymmetric structures were designed to depict the use of each building, including concepts such as movement, science, and the human body. The notion of movement and fluidity is enhanced by the pools surrounding the structures, therefore the rigidity of the concrete and steel contrast against the waters. This modern metropolis feel to the complex provides a futuristic environment in the present day.
BENJAMIN BERTRAM BLOG 