What does the ideal dining table look like for those who dedicate their lives to beauty? Serax asks the photographer duo Lalo & Eva and creative director Deborah Bloemen, who often collaborate as a team. Their answer: a soft yet obscure dreamscape where plates and linens float.
Can you introduce yourself first?
Lalo & Eva: “We are Lalo and Eva. A decade ago, we embarked on our journey as a photography duo, united by a shared passion for artistic imagery infused with a surrealist touch. Our work is always imbued with a sense of dreaminess, sensuality, and poetry. Rather than static poses, we seek movement, embracing a natural, fluid approach to photography that feels organic and alive.”
Deborah Bloemen: “I have been working as a creative director in the fashion, music, and art world for over 15 years. The essence of my job is to create compelling and immersive imagery. Aesthetically, I am a shapeshifter, I thrive on challenging conventions and pushing boundaries. My goal is to evoke emotion, to stir something in the viewer.”
Speaking of poetry and rebellion: your dream table is floating!
Bloemen: “We took the concept of the dream table quite literally and used the unconscious mind as our starting point. For inspiration, we turned to art books from the 1970s, a decade when art photography often embraced the obscure. The result is an uncanny, surreal dining scene where everything seems to float.”
Lalo & Eva: "Dreams often teeter on the edge of enchantment and unease. They can effortlessly shift from the familiar to the uncanny. That ambiguity is what we sought to capture in our dream table. The result is a stark white tablescape that suddenly comes to life. The table linens evoke the cloths draped over furniture in abandoned houses, hinting at a presence both haunting and poetic."
'While computer-generated imagery can be interesting, we deliberately opted for a tactile approach in this project. It demanded both time and unwavering precision. Over five hundred threads were meticulously arranged to create the illusion of weightlessness.'
How did you approach the project?
Bloemen: "While computer-generated imagery can be interesting, we deliberately opted for a tactile approach in this project. It demanded both time and unwavering precision. Over five hundred threads were meticulously arranged to create the illusion of weightlessness. To achieve the perfect shape and structure for each fabric, we stiffened them layer by layer, a process that took days. Additionally, we curated a rich variety of textiles, from vintage French cotton tablecloths to sheer 1970s curtains, weaving a delicate interplay of textures.”
Lalo & Eva: “On the day of the shoot, we began by meticulously suspending each object at precisely the same height. Even perfecting the shadows to enhance the floating effect proved to be a challenge in itself. As a testament to authenticity, we chose not to digitally erase the threads. On the contrary, they are an integral part of the final composition, adding to the ethereal atmosphere of our images."
Why did you choose the Perfect Imperfection tableware by the late Roos Van de Velde?
Lalo & Eva: “We were captivated by the organic, amorphous forms of Perfect Imperfection. They inspired us to create imagery that transcends traditional product photography, evoking something more artistic, more immersive.”
Bloemen: “The organic forms of Roos’ collection allowed us the creative freedom to follow our intuition. We wanted to extend its pristine white tones, crafting a visual serenity where every element seamlessly merges. The boundaries between the bowls, cups, and fabrics have almost completely disappeared, dissolving into a harmonious composition.”
This is art photography.
Lalo & Eva: “Thank you. We are drawn to images that stand the test of time. The creative freedom Serax gave us for this project was invaluable. Initially, we had planned to shoot in black and white, but a serendipitous accident on set led to an unexpected blue hue. Because we had the freedom to experiment, we chose to embrace this shift. Now, the blue tint enhances the dreamlike atmosphere of the images.”
Bloemen: “This dream table isn’t about selling a product, it’s about presenting it in an entirely new light. That’s what makes this project so refreshing: we were liberated from the constraints of functionality and sales messaging. The object itself can remain almost concealed within the image. By merging the fabrics and objects, the viewer might only notice a plate or a cup after a second or third glance. That subtlety adds the poetry and depth we were searching for.. Above all, we believe in the enduring power of a timeless image.”
Are you a creative and interested in curating your own dream table? Contact us at hello@serax.com
