WELCOME to the autumn issue of Glass, which has the theme of Powerplay. At Glass, we like to approach things from a slightly different angle, so I thought a twist, or play, on power would be an interesting take. How do you use, or play, with your power?
The writer Alice Walker said, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” While Roman Stoic philosopher, Seneca believed “Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power” – both eloquent summations of the realisation of one’s own personal power (which is often underestimated) and is self-mastery.
I wanted to provide a counsel against despair in these uncharted and unsettling times and focus our individual and collective power and the ability to make a difference.
Samara Weaving. Photograph: Ssam Kim
In LA, we met up with Australian actor and model, Samara Weaving, who shared with us how much she enjoys playing powerful women: “I think in all of the genre films I’ve done, they’re [female characters] always really strong. I’m very drawn to that, even if they’re bad. Is that tooting my own horn?” We reassure her that she can.
Vivien Solari. Photograph: Agata Pospieszynska
Another of our cover stars, leading model, turned activist, Vivien Solari, shares her strategies for living in an environmentally conscious way. Solari tells Glass that the concept of Powerplay meant “being the best version of myself I can be. This, to me, is often not always following the conventional route, and so having to challenge myself.”
Halston Sage. Photograph: Nick Hudson
Another cover star, the up-and-coming American actor Halston Sage discusses with us her latest role as Ainsley Whitly in the upcoming series, Prodigal Son, a character that Sage believes is a powerplayer for their resistant grappling with family trauma. Trauma that “really compels her forward to be this strong woman – a successful TV journalist and a rock for the people in her life that need it the most.” Sage is ardent in her admiration of Ainsley for her confidence and ability to become stronger from the past, without dwelling on it.
And in our fashion feature section, the London-based, Canadian fashion designer Edeline Lee gives this insight, “We each have power within us. Do whatever feels like play to you and there you will find the greatest expression of your personal power.”
While Italian jewellery designer Delfina Delettrez says, “Jewellery can transcend time. It can travel through time, touching different generations. Jewellery is also a serum of strength, and I like to talk to women who want to feel empowered by jewellery.”
Georgina Grenville. Photograph: Bojana Tatarska
We also explore the work of leading fashion photographers, such as the ground-breaking Hungarian Tom Kublin – Balenciaga’s favourite– who, despite dying aged 42 in 1964, has had an enduring influence on fashion photography; the Brit Nick Knight who is still at the vanguard after 30 years and we preview Shoot for the Moon, Tim Walker’s new show at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
In our Space section, we speak to the Paraguayan architect Glo Cabral from Gabinete de Arquitectura company in Paraguay about how ethical convictions are as just as important as design creativity and the need to be not just “citizens” but “care-izens”
Caitriona Balfe. Photograph: Hew Hood
Protecting the planet is perhaps the most crucial challenge humanity faces today. When the World Health Organization says, “A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change” we need to take notice. The United Nations also endorses veganism stating, “A global shift towards a vegan diet is vital to save the world from hunger, fuel poverty and the worst impacts of climate change,” the message and its gravity about how harmful meat production is to the environment really couldn’t be any clearer.
In this issue, we talk to film director and vegan activist Nina Messinger about her documentary, H.O.P.E. What You Eat Matters and we look at how veganism has moved from a fringe movement to the planet’s “greatest hope” – demonstrating that people’s power to embrace a full or more plant-based diet has an impact.
All these are unique interpretations of powerplay. What is yours? Large or small, it can make a difference.
by Caroline Simpson
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