Flanelle digital magazine issue No 28 August 2024

"Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final. Don’t let yourself lose me.” - Rainer Maria Rilke 

In a daring and imaginative collaboration, visual artist Leah Huang and Sandrine B. have crafted a narrative that embraces both the tranquility and turbulence of the ocean-side atmosphere in Coney Island, New York. From radiant clear skies to the fierce embrace of wind, rain, and high tides, they have chosen to dance with the storm rather than defy it. Their visual story is a tribute to the beauty found in imperfection, where organic textures of jewelry meld with mossy rocks, grainy sands, and the unpredictable currents of air. 

Leah Huang, a Brooklyn-based artist, seamlessly integrates Eastern and Western sensibilities in her painting and film photography, creating a singular vision that is both profound and evocative. With roots in Corsica, France, Sandrine B. draws inspiration from discarded objects, crafting sustainable jewelry in New York City that mirrors the raw beauty of nature and fleeting moments of life. Her latest collection, aptly named “Unearthed,” captures the ocean’s essence with sterling silver pieces that evoke the delicate fragments of seashells and corals. These jewelry pieces, reminiscent of treasures from sunken ships, narrate tales of ancient maritime adventures and timeless beauty. Intended for those who revere the mystical waters and the splendor of imperfection, "Unearthed" invites you to explore a world where human creativity and nature's unpredictability converge in perfect harmony.

The photos were shot on Portra 400 film, 35mm, using an analog camera, adding a timeless and textured quality to the images that digital photography often lacks. This choice of medium complements the organic and imperfect beauty of the jewelry, enhancing the visual narrative.