Inside the new issue of HERO, acclaimed contemporary artist Sue de Beer and legendary stylist Paul Sinclaire collaborate on the story DARK LIFE.

Inspired by the mad reality we currently exist in, they conjure a dark vision of a dystopian future-world.

“It feels like this could be the start of a real revolution,” says Sinclaire, reflecting on today’s uncertain socio-political climate – in which Donald Trump is the Twitter-trigger-happy President of the United States; the UK is officially exiting the European Union; and we’re facing one of the worst refugee crises since World War II. “We should fight for democracy,” he continues. “I’m not sure if everyone can discern reality from non-reality now.”

In the pair’s shoot, themes of social displacement, digital alienation and futuristic youth culture collide. Sue de Beer’s fascination with the paranormal is translated into a dark investigation of a potential tomorrow.

De Beer’s work, which often addresses ideas of adolescence and beauty through photography, film and installation, currently appears in the permanent collections of some of America’s most prestigious contemporary art museums, including the MoMA and the Whitney.

See a preview of the story below. 

Buy the new issue of HERO here.