1883 Magazine

May 2026

Within the pages of 1883 Magazine, photographer Gustavo Chams delivers an arresting visual journey in Inside Melanie Martinez’s World, an editorial project that deftly blends surrealist artifice with high-concept fashion. The series serves as a profound meditation on identity and performance, utilizing an eclectic mix of media techniques—from the raw, visceral grit of 35mm film and medium format stock to the experimental application of cyanotype processes. Fashion editor and stylist Matthew Mazur curates a wardrobe of intricate textures, featuring voluminous ruffles, structured wing-like silhouettes, and ornate headpieces that feel both otherworldly and deeply grounded in a fantasy-inspired aesthetic. The atmosphere, meticulously crafted by set designer Miles Bettinelli, leans into a gothic, cinematic sensibility where organic elements like fish and vegetable stalks collide with mechanical props and viscous, dark pigments. This tension is further elevated by the deliberate work of hair stylist William Scott Blair and makeup artist Laurel Charleston, who transform the artist into a living canvas of ethereal beauty and theatrical artifice. By embracing natural light, low-key chiaroscuro lighting, and heavy film grain, the imagery eschews traditional polish for a tactile, archival quality. Ultimately, this collaboration captures Martinez not merely as a subject, but as a central figure in a hauntingly cinematic narrative that blurs the lines between fine art portraiture and modern lifestyle editorial, leaving a lasting impression of raw, moody experimentation.

Editorial, Cinematic, Cinematic

Natural light

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