Double Face

IU, an icon that cannot be defined by a single word and bare-faced, Lee Ji Eun.

- YUN HYEYOUNG

Today's pictorial aims to capture two faces, Lee Ji Eun and IU, as we explore the theme of duality. Looking relaxed throughout the shoot, the songstress and renowned actor confessed that "the shoot was actually quite difficult" once it was over.

Honestly, it's always interesting to work on Gucci projects. It's probably because there are a lot of experimental outfits, scenes and messages. For instance, the goal for today was to visually represent my alter ego. I remember seeing the SS '23 collection in Milan, and I thought it was really shocking and interesting. With those memories in mind, upon hearing that the motif of today's photoshoot was based on the collection, I thought to myself that it's not going to be easy. But it turned out to be really fun! It's my first time having such thick smokey make-up and I'm grateful for the chance to be part of this exciting experience from the photoshoot composition to the props and the set design.

The last cut of the shoot was a scene of IU wearing thick, smokey make-up whilst standing in front of a wall of pictures of a bare-faced Lee Ji Eun. To be honest, I had no idea that the photo on the wall was taken at today's shoot. I thought it was a still cut taken from the Love Set episode of Persona. I knew that you have many kinds of faces and sides to yourself, but I realise that you also have faces from different times and situations too.

My staff said something similar in the waiting room just now too. I have smokey make-up on right now, but just then, we had as little make-up on as possible. And since it's early in the morning, my face was swollen like I still had baby fat (laughs) which seemed to go with the concept. Seeing the printed picture, I thought of the past too.