Eliya and Stéphane are a Model and Photographer duo, they combined their vision to capture this series of photos taken in the south of France, at Hyères les Palmiers, on the Giens peninsula. Exquisite photography that uses their shared creative aesthetic and art direction whilst conveying their connection with nature and respect for the environment, freedom and sensuality.
This series of photos was taken in the south of France, at Hyères les Palmiers, on the Giens peninsula. It’s a place of such beauty that a legend about it has survived the ages.
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FOR THIS INTERVIEW 2AM SPOKE TO ELIYA
SO ELIYA, WHERE CAN YOU USUALLY BE FOUND AT 2AM?
I am in 2 different places in the same time. In my bed and in my dreams.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETIC?
Purity is the definition of my aesthetic, but of course it’s my subjective vision of purity, my personal perception. What is pure is what is true. And when I perceive what is true, there’s something extra that touches me without knowing why, then this is my perception’s definition of beauty. For me, beauty is the absence of the false. I can perceive purity through my physical senses and my intuition.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH YOUR WORK?
My truth. In reality, when I started out as an artist, model and poet, I didn’t know what my goal was, I was just acting on intuition and what allowed me to truly be myself. It was fulfilled me and that was really the point, I realized then that through my art I was expressing who I really was and that is my primary goal, without expectation, without desire, in the raw.
Secondary to this, when people began to confide in me the positive impact I was having on them through my artistic approach, I’m grateful to be able to inspire people, to make them dream. To make them dream of freedom, beauty and love. But this intention doesn’t dictate or intervene in my desire to create; I want to let the flow of life do its work, as I believe this process is inherent to art.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE CREATIVE BLOCKS OR MOMENTS WHEN INSPIRATION DOESN’T SEEM TO COME?
Inspiration is infinite. So if I’m stuck, it’s because I need to sort something out to free my mind and reconnect with myself. So sometimes that’s going to take time, sometimes just a walk in nature.
WHAT’S THE MOST BIZARRE PIECE OF ART OR DESIGN YOU’VE EVER CREATED, AND WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT?
I don’t think I’ve done anything very strange, I’m not really eccentric. I’m not really eccentric. But basically, what I do is weird for most people: finding myself naked in all kinds of places, having my picture taken, that’s not very ordinary!
WHAT’S YOUR GO TO SONG OR GENRE TO WORK TO?
It depends on the mood of the shoot, but in general I like film music that allows me to get into a role and convey intensity.
WHERE DOES YOUR MAIN SOURCE OF INSPIRATION COME FROM?
My main source of inspiration is nature, the sea, the ocean, the forest, the beach, the sky, everything that exists in nature. As a model, I’m very inspired by the personality of the photographers I work with, their sensibility, their universe. I look for the connection, the osmosis.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEVER FAILS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY OR BRINGS A SMILE TO YOUR FACE?
So many things, Going to the beach, waking up next to my man, when I’m working and my cat stays close to me, meeting passionate people with whom I can chat for hours, traveling, reading a book in my sunny, plant-filled living room.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST DREAM?
I have several small dreams that make up one big dream. I won’t go into detail, but love is at the heart of it all. I dream of feeling happy and at peace, whatever the circumstances of my life. I dream of understanding things that elude human beings. I dream of a sublime home fashioned in the image of nature, respectful of the environment, and melted into the heart of an abundance of vegetation like a sanctuary of beauty and peace
WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO ASPIRING ARTISTS?
Be yourself, uncompromisingly and lovingly.