In 2015, to celebrate the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty retrospective at the V&A, photographer Nick Knight released a stunning composite of images from his Black project, which he had captured during the 2004 American Express Black Event. Curated and co-hosted by McQueen himself, the event showcased a selection of black pieces from McQueen’s archive, along with new designs created specifically for the occasion. Knight’s Black tableaux featured iconic models like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Lily Cole, and Gemma Ward, and was intended to preserve the momentous significance of the event. Knight, who had collaborated with McQueen since the mid-90s, described the project as a way to reflect on and celebrate their long creative relationship. The 2015 release included four sections: the tableaux of photographs, a fashion film, a behind-the-scenes film, and a dedicated film of the Black collection. These works, blending photography, film, and performance, not only honored McQueen’s visionary legacy but also offered a fresh, immersive exploration of the designer’s powerful themes of death, transformation, and beauty.
