Olivia Bee's first solo exhibition, 'Kids in Love,' is currently being showcased at the Agnes B. SoHo location.
The series documents an exploratory and ephemeral period in Bee's life, when she was first beginning to experiment with sex and drugs. Each image is disarmingly honest, from a photograph of her kissing her first real boyfriend underwater, to a shot of her brother proudly displaying his banged-up arm after jumping off a train. 'Kids in Love' pays homage to a time period when you feel invincible; like no matter how reckless you are, physically or emotionally, nothing can really touch you.
In her own words, Bee explains, "It was a kind of time in your life when you’re feeling all these feelings of forever. When you feel bad, it kinda feels good, and you want to dwell on how shitty you feel. When you feel good, you feel like that’s the only way you’re gonna feel for the rest of your life. Kids in Love is about all of my friends in high school and what we did, the boys I kissed, the universe we created for ourselves."
Ripening Youth Photography
Olivia Bee's 'Kids in Love' is a Beautiful Coming of Age Story
Trend Themes
1. Youth Nostalgia Photography - Businesses can leverage the trend by creating products or experiences that tap into millennials' nostalgia for their teenage years.
2. Honesty in Art - Disruptive innovation opportunities arise for businesses that seek to create authentic, unfiltered representations of human experiences and emotions through art.
3. Exploratory Art Exhibit - There is room for businesses to create immersive and interactive art exhibits that allow patrons to explore and relive their own coming-of-age experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Fine Art - The fine art industry has an opportunity to support and showcase emerging artists who create authentic and relatable works that speak to younger audiences.
2. Fashion - The fashion industry can incorporate themes and aesthetics from youth nostalgia photography into marketing campaigns and clothing designs.
3. Entertainment - Entertainment companies can create coming-of-age films, TV shows, and music that resonate with audiences who romanticize their teenage years.