Philip Levine started going bald at age 29. In 2006 he made the decision to shave his head completely using it as an artistic canvas. Philip has gone on to become an iconic figure within London’s art and design scenes, in fact I recall seeing him frequently at fashion week. One of his most impressive designs was a 1000 Swarovski crystal headpiece, pictured. Gillette are sponsoring Philip's debut exhibition in May, so what better time to catch up with Philip to find out about his background, art and new venture...
The Style PA: When you first started going bald, how did you feel about it?
Philip: My hair started falling out when I was about 23, beyond the impending doom that you feel youth leaving your grasp I was fine about it. To be honest it wasn’t much of a shock, my father and grandfather were both bald men. It didn’t take much mental arithmetic to work out who was next.
What triggered you shaving your head and embarking upon your first design?
I didn’t want the Bobby Charlton sweep over or comb forward or slicked back look. I promised myself when it got to that in-between stage I would shave it off and did so with aplomb. It was then I looked in the mirror and believed there was something more I could do with a bald head. I then found a body painter and created my designs. The first one was a black and silver painted design.
How long have you been working with Kat and how did the collaboration start?
I started doing my designs in 2006 and after meeting one or two body artists found Kat who understood my vision of the designs I wanted to create. We have since become very good friends. You have to when working so often together.
How do you decide what art to create, where do your inspirations come from?
The design ideas come from everyday objects, materials, images and friends. People from the past as well who had strong image looks and fashion statement such as Klaus Nomi, Freddie Mercury, Boy George and Max Headroom.
Did you set out to change the attitudes of people towards baldness?
Not intentionally at first, it was just some idea I had but now it is a definite YES. You have this great canvas on your head where your hair use to be so why not use it. A canvas for creativity.
Do you want other people to use their heads in a similar way to you? Have you seen people trying their hand at it too?
I have had people from all over the world email me about how inspiring they find what I do. Only the other day some girl from Greece was emailing images of her designing one of her friends heads this is from one of my images. I must be doing something right for people to also want to design their heads and I have had requests to design on people’s heads.
What about the commercial opportunities - selling advertising space for example? Something you'd ever consider?
There have been many artists that have been snapped up by companies to advertise for them. A recent campaign I saw in London was definitely influenced by Liu Bolin, an artists who paints his body into a scene. If your art is good enough then people will pay for your creativity and if my head is an ad tool and the company is right then why not. Gillette is supporting me for my show, you never know if they would want to take our relationship further and use my head for ad space. Also I want to design onto Kanye West, Lady Gaga’s heads or someone similar.
Do people often approach you to find out more about what you do and is the response generally positive?
Yes 99% of the time the response is positive. I have been quite humbled sometimes. This started off as an idea with no thought of gain or vanity and I have now inspired people with alopecia, depression and other problems who have emailed and said what a wonderful idea it is to use something that could be seen as a weakness and turn it into a strength.
Your debut exhibition launches in May, is this something you've wanted to do for a while? What do you hope to gain from it?
Good question. My Headism exhibition supported by Gillette is from May 3rd – May 9th at The NL Gallery in Riding House Street near Oxford Circus. In 2009 I started thinking that it would be great to do an exhibition, then my site had loads of hits and now it is becoming a reality. I have not just images, but head busts, dolls and a mini documentary for the exhibition. It is all very exciting. I am still trying to work out what I want to gain from the show. With any show you should sell your work, so there is that. Other thoughts are to be respected by the art world and also by my contemporaries which is never easy. What I really want is to create an iconic image that lasts a generation and inspires people in life. An image that Grace Jones or David Bowie would have produced in the past.
Which are your top 3 designs that you've worn?
I would say the crystal head design, butterflies has always been well received and my safety pin Mohawk. All of them will be displayed at the show.
You can catch Philip Levine's exhibition ‘Headism’ sponsored by Gillette in London featuring photography by Daniel Regan, documentary by Viviane Castillo and sculpture supported by Lifecast. Open from 4th – 9th May 2011, noon – 6pm daily at the NL,
Dutch Cultural Pop Up Space, 40/42 Riding House Street, London, W1W 7ET.
Visit
Philip Levine's website for more info and news.
