A long way from the Swan River…Kevin Parker on the French Riviera for Celine. Image: Celine

One thing you can guarantee from Celine creative director Hedi Slimane is his love – obsession, even – for rock stars. His Portraits series is an homage to the artists, the music and the performers that have changed the culture. The latest addition to this gallery of all stars is Australian musician, Kevin Parker aka Tame Impala.

For anyone who came of age during the 2010s, it was highly likely that the music of Tame Impala was the backing track to your daily commute and one of the most popular acts to book for the plethora of festivals that we used to mark the calendar by. Known for his experimental approach to sound – psychedelic with a dash of rock and pop for good measure – Tame Impala became one of Australia’s biggest exports of the decade.

So it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the Perth-native Parker, on the 10-year anniversary of his seminal album Loner no less, is the latest addition to Hedi Slimane’s version of a Hall of Fame: his infamous Portrait of a Musician photographic series. Signs of the collaboration were perhaps first seen back in June, when Parker was in attendance at the Celine Homme Summer 2023 show.

Shot on the French Rivieria (a long way from the Swan River of Parker’s hometown of Perth) the series offers an interesting take on Parker who, while somewhat of a fashion icon among his fans, was historically more likely to be found at a music festival than a runway.

Kevin Parker of Tame Impala by Hedi Slimane. Image: Celine

Shot in Slimane’s signature black and white, the portraits are part campaign part essay that explores the connection between music and fashion. The series has become famous in its own right for the way it weaves the story of the musician with one told by the clothing and designs of Celine Homme.

Parker joins the likes of The White Stripes frontman, Jack White, and singer Gus Dapperton who were previous faces of the Portrait of a Musician series. Other performers include the iconic rock legend Joan Jett, Oracle Sisters, and the artist Carlos Valencia.