London, Paris — Merthyr.
The Merthyr Working Men’s Club, Wales, is a favorite spot for Welsh filmmaker and creative director Charlotte James and French photographer Clémentine Schneidermann. Like any Wild West setting — or in this case a Welsh pub, a few locals are scattered around watching the telly. While some linger around the pool table in the corner, others perch themselves at the bar. It is one of the settings where Charlotte James and Clémentine Schneidermann oversee an incongruous cohort of eight to fourteen-year-old children, with whom they collaborate. Together, they create images that tap into play, performance, and identity. The ongoing project’s title, It’s Called Ffaswin, references a candid response to a curious passerby who asked what on earth the youths were wearing.
“What are you wearing? You look like you’re going to a funeral.”
“It’s called fashion — look it up.”