Sweet Apocalypse

Sweet Apocalypse
Currently based in Berlin (by way of LA, NYC and London), Matt Lambert is a filmmaker,
photographer, artist and head of video for London-based, multidisciplinary art collective,
Bare Bones and last but not least the photographer for our current issue’s captivating main
male fashion story, “Totgeburt”.
– a conversation with Matt Lambert
interview
Sophia Rotas
How do you relate to light? How do you relate to darkness?
I grew up in LA on Punk Rock. Its teeth, tone and angst are
ever present in everything I do. The aesthetic and intuitive
process of the work I do with Bare Bones continues to echo
the fucked-up and photocopied texture of the gig fliers and
albums that littered my walls as a teenager. Even in my
more polished work, I try to keep a darkness and grit to the
images and scenes overall.
I then overdosed on German Expressionist Cinema and
countless contemporary painters and photographers
whom I connected to for one reason or another. Saying all
that, I don’t feel my work is all that dark. It more possesses
a lack of light and color, creating reductionist imagery that
can often convey a narrative in a much more refined way.
The simplification of subjects gives the viewer a chance to
study scenes under a sort of microscope.
What is the best tool for you to connect with your
subjects/models?
Going out, traveling, being online and beer.
What is your relationship to your models?
The majority of people I shoot are friends or at least they
become so afterward. There’s a very blurry line and I rarely
consider them models.
Any textbook advice how to dominate on a set when you
are shooting?
I’m never interested in dominating, but rather building
a trust and intimacy with whoever I shoot.
What do you think has been the most significant transformation in your work?
The most significant transformation has actually happened
this year after finally settling into my own in Berlin. This
city has slowed me down, forced me to pull from my gut
and be more honest with myself. In turn, I’ve been more
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productive than ever. I live in a bubble compared to my
lives in LA, NYC and London, and have become much less
concerned about what other people are doing outside of
a close group of peers.
Name the top 5 most exciting thing that happening around
you right now and deserves recognition:
The upcoming release of my latest short film “Heile
Gänsje”, my collaboration with Gio Black Peter’s new publication “Satanica”, a new video in development with Patrick
Wolf, more exhibition with Bare Bones and creating a new
mythology with my new group ‘Vitium Contra Naturam’
What is your take on portraying violence?
I grew up surrounded by violence – a violence masked in
layers of code and subculture in LA. A lot of my films work
to understand and deconstruct something I didn’t have
the visual tools to express when growing up. Violence can
be one of the purest and simultaneously most complex,
primal actions. This duality is something that intrigues me
as well as it does in my works dealing with sexuality.
In my read sex is important because its one of the last
things that are not boring in this planet, but in your
works, how would you place sexuality?
Sexuality influences the ideas behind a lot of my work and
it evolves in parallel to mine. I’m interested in getting to
the core of the human condition and sexuality is a pretty
direct main to it.
In the “WAR” music video or the “umasan” there is this
apocalyptic, distopian taste, which constantly haunts
your works. What is attractive for you in a post apocalyptic world?
It becomes much clearer to observe humans under a microscope when removed from their reality – it unifies us.
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photographer Matt Lambert
stylist Sophia Rotas
hair & make-up Jana Oheimb-Rosta @ NUDE agency
assistants Jannis Birnser, Alex blume
models David Metcalfe, Dan Rumpf,
special thanks to:
Kimi de Bont @ X X X - BERLIN showroom
Affa Osman @ IZAIO models
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vest with black pearls / Giuseppe Virgone
Lenny Muller @ IZAIO Berlin
www.nerohomme.com
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est with black pearl / Gieseppe Virgone
black leather visor / Fleet Ilya
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black tank top / Giuseppe Virgone
black satin trousers / Dont Shoot The Messengers
claw boxer / Bjørg Jewellery
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black tank top / Giuseppe Virgone
black satin trousers / Dont Shoot The Messengers
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black hoodie / Asger Juel Larsen
black jumper / Dont Shoot The Messengers
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black hoodie / Alexandra Groover
black jumper / Dont Shoot The Messengers
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