In a reversal of roles, Kris Van Assche opted to interview one of his contributors to A#7 himself, redirecting the spotlight onto his campaign photographer for FW08, Jeff Burton. Rather than publishing their entire conversation, Kris opted to portray Jeff’s quotes as a graphical series, adding emphasis to his words with bold types and negative space. Conversation between the designer and the erotic photographer was intimate and lively, and Kris’ clear admiration for Jeff’s work shows in Jeff’s responses to his fascinated enquiry. Read some of Jeff’s words below:

“Sometimes desperation creates pretty amazing things”

“Call me a romantic but I need to feel inspired. I want there to be love on the set. During a shoot I get really connected with people. It’s like a short love affair. And then it ends. And then its over and I get kind of hurt. Its kind of heartbreaking, I feel like I am really emotional about them, I feel like my life is in here…”

“I am lost in the mystery of it… it’s so beautiful to watch people having sex… I am dirty.. But its sweet, its sweet dirty.”

“Shy-wild”

“Before I started making the art I met a boy and fell in love. I brought home this boy for Christmas. It wasn’t a great guy, so my mum was worried about me. I didn’t explain to my mum – Betty – I was making pornography until I started making art out of it. Because that, she knew was my dream, to be an artist. When that was starting to solidify and I was being shown in NY, I explained. But I kept my family away from my shows for a very long time. I was really, really nervous. There’s a part of me that is so shy that I feel unworthy. There’s a lot of shame going on, growing up in Texas, being a homosexual, being an artist. But underneath it was a certain bravery I guess, that pushed me to do these crazy things. [...] When Marcella Borghese – you know the Borghese makeup? It’s big in Texas – the heiress bought some of my work. I knew my mother would know who that was and that it would mean something with her. She said ‘ooh, she loves your work..’. That would mean something to her, I thought. She was so cool, she’s 80 now – she was probably 70 at the time – she said: BEAUTY COMES FROM STRANGE PLACES”.

[on bad reviews] “Did they spell your name right? – You’re fine!”

[on working late] “The car that’s going to take me home is a ambulance”