Jacob Elordi Stars in Bottega Veneta’s Dreamlike New Campaign
Bottega Veneta has revealed a new campaign by artist and photographer Duane Michals, exploring the nature of dreams. Michals explains, “Surrealism suggests an alternative profound reality. It’s discomforting, and it contradicts the mere facts of our ordinary reality.”
His latest work, What Are Dreams, is a photo series and short film featuring actor Jacob Elordi. The project continues Michals’ deep engagement with surrealism since the 1960s and debuted at Curzon Mayfair on November 3, in collaboration with Bottega Veneta and Club Ciné. This event preceded a screening of Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, starring Elordi.
Artistic Influences and Style
Inspired by scuola metafisican Giorgio de Chirico and surrealist René Magritte, Michals is recognized for placing everyday objects in unusual settings to challenge perceptions of reality and representation. His new film, shot at his New York home, presents Elordi in black and white surrounded by recurring motifs in Michals’ work—a convex mirror, a floating feather, and a crystal ball.
Poetry and Collaboration
In the film, Elordi recites a poem by Michals titled What Are Dreams, originally published in 2001 in Michals’ photo book Questions with Answers.
“Surrealism suggests an alternative profound reality. It’s discomforting, and it contradicts the mere facts of our ordinary reality.” – Duane Michals
Author’s summary: Duane Michals’ surreal campaign with Jacob Elordi for Bottega Veneta blends haunting imagery and poetry to challenge reality’s borders with a timeless artistic vision.