In the fourth of a six-part series, bionic pop star Viktoria Modesta discusses fashioning her identity, the clothing of tomorrow and the biggest decision she ever made
The bionic pop star and creative director describes her style as “retro-futuristic”. She adds: “I don’t agree with how minimal and hard-edged the future always looks. For me, the imagining of the future was at its most exciting in the middle of the last century. I like the irregular curvature and elegance of the past. When you look into the shapes of a lot of scientific structures, there is a curvature in nature and unusual architectural things. The futuristic part comes from my curiosity about what is possible. Technology and science is a way of understanding something that doesn’t yet exist.”
Working alongside researchers, Modesta has been experimenting with textiles. “Everything I see in development right now, from mushroom leather to using unusual techniques from nature to create materials, is just so fascinating,” she says.
I
t’s hard to look away from Viktoria Modesta. With her platinum blonde pixie crop and delicate features, she cuts a mesmerising figure both on and off camera. But what really sets Modesta apart from the crowd is her imagination, especially when it comes to the future and what technology could soon make possible. From health and wellbeing, to art and fashion, it transcends every aspect of her life.
This appetite for progress stems from her childhood in Latvia, where foreign brands were banned until 1990. She turned to Hollywood films and fairytales for escapism, captivated by the ways in which characters’ physical transformations carved out new identities and opportunities. Later, when her family moved to London, she was immediately drawn to the capital’s subcultural and avant-garde scenes.
Witnessing artists “taking ownership of their bodies and using them as a blank canvas” inspired the young Modesta to see beyond limitation and make the decision aged 15 to have life-changing surgery. An accident at birth had damaged her lower left leg and after years of painful procedures, she opted to have it removed. She’s never looked back.
Contrary to prevailing narratives around disability, Modesta credits her amputation with opening doors, not closing them, especially when it comes to a lifelong obsession – fashion. “Throughout my life and work I’ve used fashion to reconstruct my identity, asking myself, ‘Who could I be that’s beyond Viktoria in real life?’”
Incorporating her prostheses into her aesthetic, she has a vast collection of bionic limbs to complement various looks and moods. “Since living in Hollywood, I’ve started having more fun and often wear a chrome prosthetic, which becomes part of my jewellery.”
Recently, she’s become an ambassador for a space exploration programme. “I’ve done several zero gravity flights, which gave me the opportunity to experiment with the most crazy fashion. Everything we know about the limitations of being on Earth has no meaning up there.”
"I changed the course of my own path and turned a life sentence into so many opportunities"
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photography: NICK THOMPSON for bridge studio. Make-up: LAN NGUYEN @ EIGHTEEN MANAGEMENT.
Hair: RICHARD PHILLIPART @ GARY REPRESENTS. Nails: robbie tomkins @ premier agency. set design: carolina mizrahi
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"Clothes in the future will have technology embedded in them to help us communicate, express ourselves, even feel better."
The intersection of fashion and science fascinates Modesta. She sees the clothes of tomorrow evolving to play a key role in our health and wellbeing.
“When I think about clothing in the future, I imagine that our garments will be made from smart materials, which will not only react to the environment and protect us but also have smart technology embedded in them that will help us to communicate, express ourselves and even feel better. So much of the external technology that is being made right now will be integrated into our garments. What clothes mean to us will be transformed.”
Whichever direction fashion takes, one thing’s for sure – Modesta will be leading the way.
“I’m always going to stay at the forefront of innovation. I need to experience everything myself. I like to be my own Frankenstein.”
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