During Willy Vanderperre’s 20-year-long career as a photographer — much of it spent on the pages of i-D, shooting some of our most iconic covers and fashion stories — he’s constantly defined and redefined the image of youth, and captured the brilliant beauty and incomparable attitude of the outsider. He’s always referenced his own youth, too, which was spent listening to Depeche Mode and The Smiths in West Flanders — Belgium’s bible belt. Willy’s drawn on that specific setting for his debut short film, Naked Heartland, which premiered last night in London. Naked Heartland is the story of three young people, Ann, Jan and Rob, and their lives in rural Flanders.
is partly about the timeless difficulties of growing up and coming of age, and the issues we all have to deal with as teenagers. Whether it’s repressive parents, being bullied, or coming to terms with sexuality, Ann, Jan and Rob are struggling for their own identities. “These are late teenagers,” Willy explains, “17 and 18-years-old — the time you truly discover yourself. They’re struggling with the problems that come with this age.”
But Naked Heartland is also about the power, pull and isolation of virtual life and social media. The characters are searching for love and acceptance but they’re loners stuck in their own world. Social media is the only place these emotional nomads can share their true feelings. “I refer to Naked Heartland as a poem, it’s open to interpretation. Each viewing can give you a different feeling, emotion,” says Willy. The characters are trying to break free from their lives, but they’re also scared of leaving their childhoods behind. “This is the age that has always attracted me the most, even in my photographs,” Willy says. “The age you lose your innocence and have to consider more serious questions.”
Alongside the film, Willy has collaborated on a project with David Owen of IDEA books, who recently published 635, a collection of the photographer’s Instagram posts. The book will be released in a limited edition of 300, featuring stills from the film.
Credits
Text Felix Petty
Photography Willy Vanderperre