Frieze x Gucci: Second Summer of Love

The love child of Gucci and Frieze ‘The Second Summer of Love’ is a major new 4-part video project. As to celebrate 30 years since 1988’s Second Summer of love; a year of progressive music, ‘youth-driven’ art and acid raves that kick-started a cultural revolution, there will be 4 films released throughout the year. This concept is more relevant than ever because of the similarities drawn between the cultural-political landscapes of 1988 and 2018. Western politics is becoming increasingly unstable, which is having multiple social ramifications. During the thatcher era, underground raves were born and now a new wave of underground rave culture is beginning to blossom again. This is especially prominent amongst Scottish youth whilst the push for Scottish independence is ongoing.

Gucci have released the prelude film to the first documentary of the collaboration by Wu Tsang which is called ‘Into a Space of Love’. Directed by Adam Csoka Keller and Evelyn Bencicova, the short film is set in New York City in 1983. In only 1 minuet the film is able to capture the intensity of sexual desire and infatuation. It also comments upon the broad spectrum of sexuality and how more intense power structures often lead to a rebellion, in this case being open-minded. These themes are explored through the main character that follows another male throughout the video purely driven by his own sexual desires.

Ever since my visit to the Frieze Fair in London in October 2015 I have been a big fan of their magazine. I fell in love with the weird and the wonderful of Frieze. As a viewer you are both unsettled and mesmerised by the peculiar conceptualisations. This paired with Gucci’s maximalist personality; this video series’ visuals should be mind-blowing.