AMAZE.  A personal vision on contemporary makeup.

Included in Dirk Van Saene’s NºA is this series of natural beauties enhanced by the brush of Inge Grognard, photographed by her husband Ronald Stoops.  Featuring five of Belgium’s top faces in 2001, this shoot was realised in large-scale posters, folding out from the pages of NºA – with Inge’s signature of striking, abstract makeup styles that stray far from the conventional glamour of ‘fashion’, to explore more unusual and artistic shapes and lines that distort and frame the face.

Each portrait depicts a strong and iconic model of the moment – from Laura Delicata, entirely pale faced without a visible fleck of makeup to Ann Oost, whose fine blond hair is painted with a thick stripe of black paint;  Kim Peers, with a strong jawline framed in gold paper, Roos with her cheeks traced in black and mouth powdered in a shocking white like a trompe l’oeil gag mask; and Hannelore Knuts with crystals at the corners of her lips.

Ronald captures an effortless cool in each image, as the girls stare through his lens with a calm feminine power, accented by Inge’s work to create an essence of primal and tribal sensuality.

Above: Kim Peers @ Vision.

Above: Ann Oost @ Dominique.

Above: Roos @ Vision.

Above: Hannelore Knuts @ Vision.