Cape Town - Photographer Laurence Savary enjoys celebrating Cape Town and has captured a range of the city’s sights on camera, including its flowers and art.
But her biggest project to date is “Le beau Cap Hair” – 4 500 images that showcase some of the city’s popular hair trends.
“While walking around the Cape, I would spot hair beauty everywhere. In the street, at the beach, in the malls, on the mountain, and in restaurants,” says the dual-national (French and Swiss) citizen.
“I would ask people if I could capture their hair and most people were surprised. About 90 percent of the people I approached didn’t like their own hair… they didn’t believe there is anything beautiful about it. So I would take the picture and when they saw it they will feel somehow happier.”
This weekend (November 21 and 22) she will showcase her hair exhibition at the Cape Town Hair and Beauty Show, taking place at The Lookout at the V&A Waterfront.
Savary started taking pictures to document her travels and, when she moved to Cape Town in 2007, began capturing the beauty she saw around her.
“My first portfolio ‘Le beau Cap en couleurs’ was born to celebrate the beauty of Cape flowers. In the first three years the portfolio was exhibited more than 20 times around the city, at markets, churches, schools, galleries, malls and public libraries, before I took it to Pakistan and Switzerland,” says Savary.
“I capture mainly with my heart, what I love and what is beautiful to me. I have an interest to shoot in macro (photographs shrunk to microscopic scale) to reveal colour, lateral resonance, contrast between close and far away perspectives. Inspiration comes any time in the present. I tend to explore conceptual ideas with intense focus then summarise volume findings to find themes that structure my output exhibits,” she explains.
“Among the hair themes I noticed in the Cape this year is the creativity with ‘Mandela-line hairstyle’. It is beautiful as it turns the beauty and wisdom of Nelson Mandela into a head statement of a South African today through the creativity of the hairdresser,” she says.
“Le beau Cap Hair was not planned to be a series, but I couldn’t stop looking at the beauty of hair. My message is to notice hair beauty for itself and not as an attribute to the face. Looking at hair beauty before you look at someone’s face, eyes and smile or body changes the way you see people.”
Savary’s photo interests have grown to include Namaqualand colours, the Cape minstrels and, more recently, pictures of tattooed swimmers at the Sea Point pool.
“I swim at Sea Point pool, I believe it is the most beautiful pool in the world. I capture the magic of swimmers jumping from the highest board, and I reveal the beauty of the creatures swimming underwater,” she says.
Savary plans on sharing her “Underwater Cape Town” exhibition with the rest of the city. “Underwater creatures will feature in bars, coffee shops, clubs, restaurants, public libraries… so keep your eyes open underwater and in the city,” she says.
She is preparing for the Hair and Beauty Show, an annual two-day affair which is dedicated to independent hair, fashion and beauty brands, and the people who love them. Mistresses of ceremonies at the event will include Cape Town comedian Mel Jones and British celebrity Annaliese Dayes, who was second runner-up on America’s Next Top Model: British Invasion, in 2012.
The event draws women who are seeking a convenient way to research, learn, touch, smell and sample new products, says Rose Norushu, of the Cape Town Hair and Beauty Show.
“The hair and beauty industry is constantly reinventing itself and therefore new innovative products are put on the market on a regular basis. The event serves to educate the public about the latest trends in the industry and products on offer,” she explains.
“Visitors can expect an ultimate weekend of beauty, pampering and indulgence. There will be fantastic complimentary beauty treatments, fashion shows, discounted products and lots of giveaways.”
* To see more of Savary’s hair portfolio, visit: http://bit.ly/lebeaucap or contact her at [email protected].
Event highlights
* A Kardashian Beauty Hair Blow Dry Bar.
* Red Carpet make-up sessions and Fragrance Bar: Luxury Cosmetics.
* Moroccan Oil and Paul Mitchell Red Carpet Ready Hair Workshops by Tonsorial Hair Design.
* Citroën cars showcase lounge.
* Hair and skincare educationalline-up on stage.
* Summer fashion shows by the Design Academy of Fashion.
* An exclusive stage show: “From Garbo to Gaga – Glamour Explored” by the International Hairdressing Academy
For more information, visit www.capetownhairshow.co.za
Tickets
Tickets to the Cape Town Hair and Beauty Show are R120 a day, a percentage of which will be donated to Cansa. Children younger than 10 years may enter for free.
Tickets will be available at the door, but visitors are advised to pre-purchase online at www.quicket.co.za. The event will run from 10am to 7pm on both days. Food trucks will offer a bite to eat. Cocktails, wine and soft drinks will be on sale.
Cape Argus