How Photographer Mairo Arde Continues to Reinvent His Style

Name:
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
Chilean Artist of the week - Mairo Arde
Photography:
Mairo Arde
Words:
Erica Nichols

Honest, simple, but with a lasting impact. That’s how Chilean photographer Mairo Arde would describe his own work. No need for a signature style, the common thread that connects all of Arde’s work — be it fashion, editorial, personal — is his approach: to stir something in its viewers. Whether it’s a striking composition, a bold burst of color, or a dramatic light source, Arde is an expert at unveiling an angle you haven’t considered before. Learn more about his start and creative process, as well as what he dreamed up for our DELSEY x Visual Pleasure collaboration.

How did you get into fashion photography and what attracts you most about that field?

I started taking photos at punk rock concerts, watching people running, jumping, and screaming. I was photographing these characters with a lot of energy and movement, and I had to learn to set my camera and flash quickly. That's how I started in photography, but fashion still didn't appear in this story.

When I entered university I studied graphic design but when I finished my degree and worked in an agency, I became disappointed with how uncreative the field was and that's when I realized that fashion photography was the perfect match between photographing interesting characters and designing with elements such as costumes, makeup, and poses.

How do you know when you’ve succeeded in your vision and “got the shot?”

One can take a thousand photos, but for it to be a success it has to awaken something in the person who sees it. Of course this is subjective, but if it makes you question something — whether how it was made or what it was inspired by — I think that’s the key to a successful shot.

How do you balance your creative freedom with commercial projects?

Honestly, here in Chile it is very difficult to generate the perfect balance between the creative and the commercial, so I let go of the idea of achieving it and I simply see it for what they are: two different worlds. I do commercial photography to live and continue growing in my career. I do fashion to fill the heart, connect with incredible people, and be happy.

What have been some of your favorite projects and why do they stand out to you?

Probably my Tokyo or New York editorials because of the adventure, the culture shock, being alone, the people I met, and everything I learned.

What do you hope your photography expresses to people?

I seek to create visually powerful images. I like drama but I also like simple and natural things. My style is constantly changing so I think that expresses different things. I don't take photographs looking to trigger something specific in the person who sees them, and for it to always be the same, but if they say “wow, how beautiful is this” I am fulfilled.

When you need some inspiration, where do you find it? Any local places that inspire you?

I like to visit bookstores and look at books that have nothing to do with fashion photography; I can always rescue something from there, whether it be a color palette, how a painter painted shadows, etc. I also usually visit the websites of fashion magazines to see what is being done and try to do something different.

How does travel influence your work and world view as an artist? Any specific travel stories that have stayed with you or informed your work?

You create a kind of formula when you stay in the same place for a long time, a way of doing things, and this breaks when you travel and are in contact with new teams with other forms of work. Also a different culture, different scenarios, all of that inspires you to create and is a fundamental part of growth as a person and as an artist.

Also being alone, without contacts, in a place you don't know, squeezing 100% of your hard and soft skills to achieve success. First, getting a team together and producing abroad, even in other languages, and then…just then taking a good photo.

Talk to us about what you’re creating DELSEY.

Delsey is traveling the world and arrived in Chile. This country is not well known, so I wanted to highlight perhaps its most iconic landscape: The Andes. The geographical shape of Chile resembles a corridor. On one side is the eternal and calm sea, and on the other is the Andes mountain range, imposing, aggressive, dangerous and beautiful.

The Andes is responsible for leaving us confined at the end of the world.Being one of the most brutal borders, it isolates us from the rest of the countries. We want to show how the color of the Delsey suitcases breaks the visual monotony of the mountain. The entire team is Chilean as is the locker room.

What’s in your DELSEY?

I'm quite a minimalist in many aspects of my life so I keep it simple, my essentials are:

1. Nikon L35AF Point and shoot camera + Portra 800 film - Very important to record my trip, something easy and fun to use.

2. Sony a7R III + 35mm 1.4 GM. My absolute favorite for work.

3. An amethyst stone amulet my girlfriend gave me for when I am traveling.