The new Pirelli calendar is presented

In Prague, the presentation of the 52nd Pirelli calendar took place, the author of which was the Norwegian photographer and director Sølve Sundsbø.

Pirelli notes that this time the calendar "explores the connection between humans and nature", and the main characters are depicted as symbolic embodiments of natural elements — earth, air, fire, and water — as well as "more intangible forces, such as energy, ether, and light".

"I wanted to capture the emotions, instincts, and states of the soul that underlie human life," says Sundsbø. "The desire for freedom, curiosity, thirst for knowledge — I think you can call it that. It's a kind of mystery, imagination, passion, a desire for liberation, a connection with nature, as well as our relationship with time and space. It's a way to connect us with where we come from. The goal is ambitious, but I wanted to try."

The work began in April on Holkham Beach in Norfolk and in the countryside of Essex County in Britain, where filming took place in nature, and continued in studios in London and New York. Sundsbø is considered a fan of new technologies and experiments, and this time, large LED screens were used to recreate natural images such as sunsets, clouds, fire, and water. Each character had to represent some element, and the photographer sought to "capture their emotions and unique physical features".

"I wanted to photograph mature women with a lot of experience," says Sundsbø. "I deeply respect women for who they are. Some of them I've wanted to photograph for a long time, while others are faces I've already depicted and wanted to reinterpret."

The 22 photographs feature 11 representatives of the world of cinema, fashion, sports, and music: Scottish actress Tilda Swinton, British actress Gwendoline Christie, British singer and songwriter FKA Twigs, Italian-American actress and film director Isabella Rossellini, American tennis player Venus Williams, British fashion designer and model Susie Cave, Italian actress Luisa Ranieri, Russian model Irina Shayk, Chinese model and actress Du Juan, Czech model Eva Herzigova, as well as actress Adria Arjona from Puerto Rico. Three of them — Cave, Du Juan, and Herzigova — have previously appeared in the calendar.

Photo: Pirelli