Once upon a time, before the glitz and the glam, the Harper’s Bazaar covers he’s shot, and, before he moved to Los Angeles; Reinhardt Kenneth was once a young prodigy with a dream and a camera.
Growing up in Indonesia, Reinhardt was born an artist. One of his fondest memories growing up was learning how to draw before he even learned how to form sentences. Being raised in a fashion-driven family, the now 26-year-old was born for the path of fashion photography.
Reinhardt first picked up the camera at 14 years old in 2011. A month into learning his new skill, he was featured in Vogue for his earlier work. This was soon followed by a digital exhibition at The Louvre, Art Basel Miami, as well as photography exhibitions in New York and Italy. He would go to school by day, and slowly morph into a photographic prodigy at night. By the time he had all these achievements under his belt, he was only 18. Little did he know, his then-hobby will start a career for him, all the way in Los Angeles.
Fast forward to 2023, Reinhardt is now living his childhood dream. However, the routine he has fell into has turned him a little jaded at the industry at times. The Taurean admits to feeling “blessed, grateful, yet jaded”, which sparked the whole concept behind his second exhibition.
Executive Produced by ARTCODED alongside Reinhardt’s business partner and agent, Gina Kim Park, his frustration birthed a photo collection, titled “HOURGLASS”. In this project, Reinhardt went back to his roots for inspiration. He went through his archives of his portfolio between 2011-2015. TRUE, the images were rough around the edges and didn’t portray a honed skill set, however, they were raw, purely experimental, and highly rebellious. At first, he thought of “recreating” them, however, the conclusion was to take inspiration, elevate, yet bring homage to his youth.
HOURGLASS is his ODE to art, time, growth, youth, and creative rebellion.
The exhibition involves 11 very uniquely beautiful models, alongside an estimate of a 40 people crew that Reinhardt gathered in less than a week. He reinforced the casting of the models to be based on unconventional beauty. Birth marks, albinism, creature-esque beauties, and different body types ; he wanted to reinforce inclusivity and diversity through a unique lens.
As he went through his wildest archives, he took inspiration from his techniques from back in the day. Creative approaches like morphing models into swans, having them hold their own heads, having books flying around them, adorned with multiple hands, to even scanning them through a printer were implemented into this series, all inspired by his old portfolio.
Premiering on the eve of his birthday on the 29th of April with theART-Dept, followed by an immersive experience on the 30th of April with Create This LA, HOURGLASS is set to spark conversations and celebrate creative freedom.
An ARTCODED Production @art.coded in collaboration
with theART-Dept. @theartdept_weho & Create This @createthisla.
Photography: Reinhardt Kenneth @reinhardtkenneth.
Executive Producer: Gina Kim Park @ginakpark.
Creative Producer: Ari Friedman @arimandias.
Muse:
Emily Lazar @emilylazar_sm,
Skye Aurelia @skye.aurelia,
Angela Zhang @zhangsta.io,
Paige Lauren Billiot @flawless_affect,
Addieson Caulder @officialaddieson,
Eva Cota @evacota___,
Tina Glaze @tina_glaze_,
Bunny D @bunnycrazyworld,
Kalos @kalogenic,
Sidney Rubino @sidneyrubino,
Jane @jaaneee4.
HMUA: Ja’el Serrano @serranostudiosla, Carlos Gonzalez @carlosgbeauty,
Sydney Staehle @sydstaehle, Kseniya Bernkhardt @kseniya_bern, Cristina @cristina__glam,
Mariah Valdez @riahhh.mua, Amii Galloway @amiigalloway,
Geremi So @gerrids.art, Claire Brooke @verysaltylooks,
Carmonie Fuselier @carmonieaf, Crystal Rox @crystalrox5.
Styled by: Victor Puglielli & FRAKTU @hausofpuglielli @fraktudesign.
Lighting Director: Matt Mendoza @matt.mendoza.media.
Gaffer: Hugo Arvin @arvizu_arts.
AC: Carol Colombo @caroliscolombo.
Scanned by: Rafael Llamas @rafa2w & Hio Fae @hiofae.
Photographer’s Assistant: Jenna Nikole @jenna_nikole, Franco Salas @debeserfranco.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
