“As a mother, you can still do your thing”
SUEDE MAYU PHOTO EXHIBITION OPENING + INTERVIEW WITH ARTIST AGATHA POWA
September 16, 2021
This season we gave an iconic silhouette a high fashion makeover – the PUMA Suede Mayu was born. These kicks are a bold and irreverent take on the classic Suede. To celebrate the silhouette and the strong women the shoe was created for, we cooperated with artist Agatha Powa for a photo exhibition in PUMA´s Berlin Store. The exhibition “Like ne ba – Like my mother” aims to underline the natural beauty, power, resilience, versatility and strength young mothers embody. The photo series depicts one of the many amazing women in the local creative community in Berlin, Germany. The exhibition runs until September 30, 2021. Learn more about the exhibition itself, the artist and creative idea behind it as well as the exciting guests that joined the opening on Tuesday this week.
Besides the amazing exhibits, guests enjoyed cold drinks and DJ set tunes. Some well-known German influencer were also spotted in the crowd, such as Ana Kohler, Niko Griesert, Michele De Roos, Doreen Petrova, Tamara Hintz, Luca Heubl or Emilia Bortoeck.
WE ASKED THE ARTIST …
How did the cooperation with PUMA come about?
Agatha: I already did a photo series of the Suede Mayu for ID magazine. Somebody at the PUMA headquarters took notice and I received another request for the exhibition.
What was your creative idea behind?
Agatha: I have some creative women in my circle of friends who recently became mothers. I was incredibly fascinated to see how they kept making art despite their newborn. I think one of the focal points I’ve been trying to capture is: If you’re an artist and become a parent your artistic life ain’t suddenly “over” as often stigmatised. You can still create, perform and do your thing.
How did the cooperation with PUMA come about?
Agatha: I already did a photo series of the Suede Mayu for ID magazine. Somebody at the PUMA headquarters took notice and I received another request for the exhibition.
What was your creative idea behind?
Agatha: I have some creative women in my circle of friends who recently became mothers. I was incredibly fascinated to see how they kept making art despite their newborn. I think one of the focal points I’ve been trying to capture is: If you’re an artist and become a parent your artistic life ain’t suddenly “over” as often stigmatised. You can still create, perform and do your thing.
I would even go as far to say that fulfilling your own needs is not only quintessential to the happiness of the parent, but just as essential to the happiness and healthy development of the child.
How many photos are included in the exhibition?
Agatha: The exhibition includes 22 images.
What do you think is special about the Suede Mayu kicks?
Agatha: The Suede Mayu is super comfortable. For me it is very important that shoes are comfortable. I often wear the Mayu at work for instance. I also enjoy the different colorways and even combine two different colors and mix a black shoe on the left and blue one on the right foot.
PUMA SUEDE MAYU INSPIRATION
Suede Mayu is a chic take on a classic, with over-the-top proportions and a wrapped platform midsole. It’s cool, comfy, and inherently versatile, making it the perfect everyday shoe. The silhouette is a combination of fashion edge and a street style aesthetic. The biggest influence for PUMA Suede Mayu comes from 90s Japanese streetwear and the idea of playing with proportions to bring something unexpected. We wanted to connect PUMA Suede Mayu colors with the 70s, where red and blue were really two of its most iconic colors- but having also the classic black and white colorways.
Suede Mayu is a chic take on a classic, with over-the-top proportions and a wrapped platform midsole. It’s cool, comfy, and inherently versatile, making it the perfect everyday shoe. The silhouette is a combination of fashion edge and a street style aesthetic. The biggest influence for PUMA Suede Mayu comes from 90s Japanese streetwear and the idea of playing with proportions to bring something unexpected. We wanted to connect PUMA Suede Mayu colors with the 70s, where red and blue were really two of its most iconic colors- but having also the classic black and white colorways.
Don’t miss out on the exhibition and drop by if you are around. Our PUMA Berlin store is located at Rosenthaler Street 40-41 in 10178 Berlin (Hackesche Höfe). The exhibition is free of charge.
PUMA X AGATHA POWA
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About the artist
People are at the heart of Agatha´s work. She plays with the lines between fashion, portrait and street photography, citing personal inspirations from Vivian Maier and Peter Lindbergh to Jamel Shabazz and Dawoud Bey. Her drive is to put the person as an individual in the foreground and to break stereotypes in order to trigger a feeling of disconnectedness within the viewer.
Agatha began her journey into photography when she moved to Berlin after living in London for almost a decade. She has shot with the same 35mm and medium format camera for the majority of her career, occasionally revelling into digital or even her iphone.
MINGLING
AGATHA POWA
SUEDE MAYU
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