In the fabled myth, The Blue Fox (Le Renard Bleu), appears in both the ancient Senegalese and Japanese folktales as the trickster archetype, famous for its cunning nature. Belonging to both the heavens and the earth, the fox is the agent of chaotic good, shaking the world up when its energy has become stagnant.
What began as a rhythmic discussion between masterful Japanese composer and percussionist Midori Takada and electronic dance singer Lafawndah, resulted in a multi-disciplinary endeavour working across music, video, dance and print in telling the story of the fox, in the second instalment of Kenzo’s Folio series.
Shot in Tokyo, by the multi-platform creative partnership of the former artistic directors for Kenzo’s communications, Lola Raban-Oliva and JR Etienne, Partel Oliva, krump artist Qwenga took on the form of the titular fox, expressing its original movement within the piece Takada has worked on close to 20 years – a creation that originated in her preoccupation with the legend of the fox.
Within the foundation of a vivid instrumental composition dramatising the spirit animal’s journeys, Lafawndah responded – in her inimitable mix of fairytale and undertow — with lyrics capturing a dialogue between her and the fox himself, creating a hybrid of choreography and narrative in a contemporary cinematic frame for the myth of the fox to reappear.
Following the first issue Gidi Gidi Bu Ugwu Eze, Unity is Strength by photographer Ruth Ossai and director Akinola Davies Jr, released in April 2017, the Kenzo Folio N°02 Le Renard Bleu, will be available on www.kenzo.com, and later on Antenne Books, with photography of the 20-minute film by CG Watkins, showcasing the Kenzo La Collection Memento N°2 and Spring/Summer 2018 collections.
Besides that, a vinyl will be released with K7 (worldwide) and Ultra Vybe (Japan) on August 24.