FROM TILDA, WITH LOVE

At an intimate gathering hosted by Chanel and Hong Kong's museum of visual culture M+, Tilda Swinton shared her journey from arthouse film enthusiast to global icon who champions both avant-garde and mainstream cinema

- By Ahy Choi

There are global superstars, and then there's Tilda Swinton. The 64-year-old actor is an artist—part of that rare breed that has won the love of global audiences while maintaining their dedication to experimental cinema.

When news of her appearance at Hong Kong's museum of visual culture M+ in January broke, it stirred a frenzy among fans and cinephiles alike. Her visit centred around a conversation with legendary Hong Kong director T'ang Shu-shuen, moderated by Silke Schmickl, Chanel lead curator of moving image, in which they discussed the critical importance of film restoration.

But it was during an intimate sharing session before the main event, attended exclusively by a handful of guests, including Tatler, that Swinton opened up about her journey—from being a member of an art collective to becoming an actor in Hollywood blockbusters, while steadfastly maintaining her artistic integrity and experimental spirit.

"I had the great fortune to become a practising artist under the guidance of Derek Jarman, a great artist and collaborator, when I joined the world of practical filmmaking as part of a collective," says Swinton. "He was my real guardian angel and remains so to this day."

Their pivotal first encounter took place in the 1980s. The late Jarman, an experimental filmmaker and artist, recognised a kindred spirit in Swinton, then a social and political sciences student at the University of Cambridge, who could translate conceptual art into performance. Their collaboration began with Caravaggio (1986), Swinton's acting debut, and flourished through nine more films—a partnership that Swinton credits for instilling the experimental spirit that still drives her work today.