Fashion Icon- Arvida Byström

A Swedish Photographer, yet London based artist and cyber created vision of candy floss dreams, Arvida Byström projects her ideology of life across the internet with force, to deconstruct the barriers of sexual segregation, gendered identity and to protest a new aesthetic of beauty in the 21st century. Alongside her role as a photographer, Byström has also modelled for a series of independent and resolutely contemporary magazines such as I-D, Dazed, Fake Magazine and Rodeo Magazine and also, for modern, youth-led high street brands such as Nasty Gal, Urban Outfitters and Top Shop.

What were her influences to create photography and art with such iconic controversial displays of femininity?

Well, as majority of us in the Gen Z demographic would say, we grew up in the age where digital cameras were everywhere just like Byström states in her interview with Urban Outfitters. However, Byström's photographic vision differs to other because she offers something quite uncomfortable when it comes to the subject of female sexuality which has taken her interest for a length of time now. However, she also presents the theme from her own perspective. A perspective, as she told Urban Outfitters, that changes quite regularly. In another interview with Dazed and Confused she expressed that “You can't just make ‘feminist art’ because feminism is more like a spectrum of things; it changes and depends on its context”. Therefore, Byströms work does not just remain at one narrative but explores other qualities of life that as viewers, we may be unexpected to see and anticipate to see what she has to offer next. Although she wouldn't categorise herself as a complete fledge feminist, she still manages to create something far from typical, rather wacky and excitingly free with regards to art based on beauty of women. She does this in order to radicalise the internet, whether other feminists agree with her vision or not. In conclusion she communicates that there cannot just be one mediocre feminist view in today's society but instead, a variety of different explorations of how female gender should be presented in this cultural diverse world.

Arguably a lot of Byström's work displays motifs that would stereotypically be ones that would be associated with that girly childhood phase filled with Barbie dolls, unicorns, fairies, pastel pinks, glitter, and glorified costume like garments. However, Byström chooses these themes to ironically communicate something a little bit more serious and grant an allowance to the people of her generation, to redefine these age associated motifs and let people see them in a more mature, creative way. Her message? Why should only ten year old girls dress up as glittery pretty mermaids wearing tinselled tiaras and get away with it?



Byström for Faith Conexion featured in Dazed and Confused Magazine (Autumn/Winter edition)
Photographer- Mel Bles
Stylist-Ellie Grace Cumming

#NastyGalTruthOrDare by Arvida Byström
With Mancation for Nasty Gal

Link to video included: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k1J3e3nb00

 

Rodeo Magazine shoot by Bystrom

 

           

Fake Magazine 2013 shoot by Bystrom

Collaboration with Vanesa Kronglod 2013
Photography and modelling by Arvida Byström

(Image credits: All photographs I have included are taken by Arvida Bystrom, Mel Bles for Dazed Magazine or credited to the Nasty Gal website/youtube account.)