Judy Millar and Paul Serville go way back. The acclaimed artist and leading hair stylist first collaborated in the 1970s when she was his hair model. Now the old friends have come together on Servilles' winter hair campaign - a striking exploration of raw textural gestures in hair and in art.
Serville says he wanted an art gallery feel to his salon group's latest seasonal showcase and immediately thought of Millar, who splits her time between studios in Berlin and Henderson. He sent her the concept and she was enthusiastic about seeing her work outside the gallery environment. Getting her prints - as tall as basketballers -up seven flights of stairs to his HQ was just one logistical challenge. Serville reckons they share a similar work ethic, spending long hours in the salon and studio. "Yet, I don't think either of us has worked a day in our lives! You just feel compelled to make something happen."
For Millar, that has included exploring transferring her brushwork by the medium of billboard printers. Serville also likes pushing the boundaries, aiming to achieve emotion with his craft. During the shoot a straw was used to puff colour just where it was wanted on a model's hair.
"Technically there are parallels," says Millar. "There are aspects of always wanting to mess it up a little bit."
