Jacob Elordi Stars in Bottega Veneta’s Dreamlike New Campaign

Bottega Veneta has launched a new campaign by photographer Duane Michals, who explores the essence of dreams and surrealism. Michals tells AnOther,

“Surrealism suggests an alternative profound reality. It’s discomforting, and it contradicts the mere facts of our ordinary reality.”

His latest project, What Are Dreams, is a photo series and short film featuring Jacob Elordi, created in collaboration with Bottega Veneta. Michals’ engagement with surrealism dates back to the 1960s, and the campaign premiered on November 3 at Curzon Mayfair alongside Club Ciné. This event took place ahead of a post-Halloween screening of Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated Frankenstein, which also stars Elordi.

Surrealism and Artistic Influences

Inspired by scuola metafisica artist Giorgio de Chirico and surrealist René Magritte, Michals is known for placing familiar objects in unfamiliar settings, using irrational juxtapositions to challenge the limits of reality and representation.

Details of the Short Film

The black-and-white film was shot at Michals’ home in New York. It includes motifs frequently seen in his work, such as a convex mirror, a floating feather, and a crystal ball. Elordi recites Michals’ poem titled What Are Dreams, first published in 2001 in Michals’ photo book Questions with Answers.

“What Are Dreams”

The poem shares its name with the project, deepening the campaign’s exploration of dreaming and surrealism.

Summary: Duane Michals’ collaboration with Jacob Elordi for Bottega Veneta merges surrealism with fashion, blending dreamlike imagery and poetic expression to challenge perceptions of reality.

AnOther Magazine — 2025-11-04