Jacob Elordi Stars in Bottega Veneta’s Dreamlike New Campaign
Bottega Veneta has unveiled a striking new campaign by photographer Duane Michals, exploring the nature of surrealism and dreams. Michals describes his artistic vision as an invitation to see beyond ordinary experience into a deeper, alternative reality.
“Surrealism suggests an alternative profound reality,” said Duane Michals. “It’s discomforting, and it contradicts the mere facts of our ordinary reality.”
The project, titled What Are Dreams, features actor Jacob Elordi through a photo series and a short film created in collaboration with Bottega Veneta. This work continues Michals’ lifelong fascination with surrealism, a movement he has engaged with since the 1960s.
Exhibition and Inspiration
The campaign premiered on November 3 at Curzon Mayfair in partnership with Club Ciné, just before a special screening of Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming film Frankenstein, which also stars Elordi. Michals draws inspiration from Giorgio de Chirico’s metaphysical style and René Magritte’s surrealism, both of which examine the tension between perception and reality.
Artistic Motifs and Style
Shot at Michals’ New York home, the short film captures Elordi in black and white, surrounded by recurring symbols from Michals’ past work—a convex mirror, a floating feather, and a crystal ball. These iconic elements challenge viewers to question what is real and what is imagined.
Elordi performs Michals’ poem “What Are Dreams,” first published in 2001 in the photo book Questions with Answers.
About the Artist
Duane Michals, known for blending photography and narrative, continues to push artistic boundaries, creating visual spaces where imagination redefines truth.
Author’s Summary: Duane Michals’ surrealist campaign for Bottega Veneta features Jacob Elordi in a poetic black-and-white exploration of dreams, reality, and art’s power to unsettle perception.