INTERVIEW: KATERINA JEBB TALKS to FILEP MOTWARY
Katerina Jebb takes pictures differently than most photographers. A true original! I was familiar with her work (since 1998 .with Tori Amos' album) but getting introduced to her was far from what I ever imagined. I met Katerina through my friend Jim Couchlan (who then was assisting Lars Nilsson AND Nina Ricci) at cafe Flore in St Germain. At the time I wrote her phone number and when I finally put together Un nouveau Ideal, 
she was one of the first people I wanted to present. Jebb is known for her contribution in magazines such as Purple, Crash, Dazed and Confused but she doesn't agree with the label of the fashion photographer since her work is far beyond than only that. She sees it more like experiments on photography (I’m using her own words here). 
Fashion books apart from the "photocopy pictures" masterpieces also show her campaigns for Comme des Garcons and Guy Laroche while Elbaz was still the house designer. She is in search of new horizons for the time being, but it is better for you to read the following small interview.. Filep Motwary: In a recent conversation we had you talked to me about the turn that your wok has taken.. Photographically speaking. Would you like to be more precise? Katerina Jebb: It is more then ten years since I started making photocopy images, and a lot as changed since then. I still make photocopies, but more for myself and future projects than commercially. As images the are so recognizable and consequently
not easily applicable in the domain of advertising. I am working on an exhibition which will combine past and present work. fM:Has motherhood inspired you to follow all these new visual paths? kJ:Since having children, my orientation to everything has changed. I am more interested in the truth. I have entered a world of intimacy. Everyday I am confronted with basic issues, expression, frustration, fear, hope, tears, triumph. Before it was just me, now it's them, me and their father. My life is all at once beauty, chaos and madness. Now when I work, I am able to be more focused and efficient. I am aware that I have this amount of time and no more.
fM:How close you are with fashion at the moment. I know you contribute with magazines such a Purple, Dazed and Confused, Crash..? kJ: Fashion seems to be omnipresent, I like to look at it without obligation. fM: Are you ever interested to make a film, a longer version of your stills? kJ:In fact I have made two short films, one for
Channel 4 of the photocopy art, and another of Malcolm McLaren lying in flotation tank talking about failure. I would make another if it helped me to express something I couldn't achieve with a still. fM: What I like about you is the great sense of humor you have . Are you like this all the time? kJ:I am light and dark. I am mostly like this but sometimes with my husband I am not light. fM:Do you like being labeled? How important was for you when working with people like Comme des Garcons or Guy Laroche? kJ:Labeling is 
only peoples way of trying to control their mental filing system. I like to short-circuit the switchboard. Alber Elbaz's decision to hire me was succinct and intrepid, in enabling my work to be seen by many. After that, Comme des Garçons, which was excellent recognition. All this is in the past, it is much more interesting to look at what's not yet done. fM: Do you like Un nouVeau iDEal? kJ:Yes, very well executed, visually good looking, you should continue. fM:Thank you Katerina..When I come to Paris in February I think we 
should go for coffee where we first met, at “ Café Flore”..What do you think? kJ: Yes....
tHANK YOU kATERINA!
she was one of the first people I wanted to present. Jebb is known for her contribution in magazines such as Purple, Crash, Dazed and Confused but she doesn't agree with the label of the fashion photographer since her work is far beyond than only that. She sees it more like experiments on photography (I’m using her own words here). Fashion books apart from the "photocopy pictures" masterpieces also show her campaigns for Comme des Garcons and Guy Laroche while Elbaz was still the house designer. She is in search of new horizons for the time being, but it is better for you to read the following small interview.. Filep Motwary: In a recent conversation we had you talked to me about the turn that your wok has taken.. Photographically speaking. Would you like to be more precise? Katerina Jebb: It is more then ten years since I started making photocopy images, and a lot as changed since then. I still make photocopies, but more for myself and future projects than commercially. As images the are so recognizable and consequently not easily applicable in the domain of advertising. I am working on an exhibition which will combine past and present work. fM:Has motherhood inspired you to follow all these new visual paths? kJ:Since having children, my orientation to everything has changed. I am more interested in the truth. I have entered a world of intimacy. Everyday I am confronted with basic issues, expression, frustration, fear, hope, tears, triumph. Before it was just me, now it's them, me and their father. My life is all at once beauty, chaos and madness. Now when I work, I am able to be more focused and efficient. I am aware that I have this amount of time and no more. fM:How close you are with fashion at the moment. I know you contribute with magazines such a Purple, Dazed and Confused, Crash..? kJ: Fashion seems to be omnipresent, I like to look at it without obligation. fM: Are you ever interested to make a film, a longer version of your stills? kJ:In fact I have made two short films, one for Channel 4 of the photocopy art, and another of Malcolm McLaren lying in flotation tank talking about failure. I would make another if it helped me to express something I couldn't achieve with a still. fM: What I like about you is the great sense of humor you have . Are you like this all the time? kJ:I am light and dark. I am mostly like this but sometimes with my husband I am not light. fM:Do you like being labeled? How important was for you when working with people like Comme des Garcons or Guy Laroche? kJ:Labeling is only peoples way of trying to control their mental filing system. I like to short-circuit the switchboard. Alber Elbaz's decision to hire me was succinct and intrepid, in enabling my work to be seen by many. After that, Comme des Garçons, which was excellent recognition. All this is in the past, it is much more interesting to look at what's not yet done. fM: Do you like Un nouVeau iDEal? kJ:Yes, very well executed, visually good looking, you should continue. fM:Thank you Katerina..When I come to Paris in February I think we should go for coffee where we first met, at “ Café Flore”..What do you think? kJ: Yes.... tHANK YOU kATERINA!
fILEPX
Copyright of this interview is owned by "Un nouveau ideal" and reproduction is prohibited unless you have written permission by myself, Filep Motwary. For More on K.Jebb please visit http://www.katerinajebb.com/
