Make-up artist Francois Nars opens up his French Polynesia island in new book

April 2024 · 4 minute read

So that's what inspired his Tahiti foundation! Make-up artist Francois Nars opens up his French Polynesia private island in new photography book 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 16:28 EST, 8 October 2013 | Updated: 20:10 EST, 9 October 2013

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Behind every great fashion beauty lies a great makeup artist - and photographer.

François Nars, who launched his makeup line under his own surname in 1994, has spent ten years photographing his private island of Motu Tané off the coast of Tahiti.

Now, the 54-year-old, who for his first Nars ad campaign took up a camera himself and eventually began shooting editorial for major magazines, including Vogue Nippon, is releasing a photography book highlighting its beauty: Tahiti: Faery Lands.

A new book, Faery Lands, looks at the private island of make-up artist Fracois Nars, who spent 10 years photographing the Tahiti island

A new photography book, Faery Lands, looks at the private island of famed make-up artist François Nars

The $100 book, which focuses on what is one of the 118 islands scattered in the South Pacific’s turquoise waters, arrives in stores October 15.

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Leaving his traditional subject matter behind, Nars worked with legendary art director Giovanni Bianco to compile the exquisite collection of images; celebrated for their vibrant interplay of color and form.

The book combines his sepia-toned portraits of native Tahitians, with environmental landscapes, all shot with a large-format camera.

François Nars, who launched his makeup line under his own surname in 1994, has spent ten years photographing his private island of Motu Tané off the coast of Tahiti

Nars, who launched his makeup line under his own surname in 1994, has spent ten years photographing his private island of Motu Tané off the coast of Tahiti

Leaving his traditional subject matter behind, Nars worked with legendary art director Giovanni Bianco to compile the exquisite collection of images; celebrated for their vibrant interplay of color and form

Leaving his traditional subject matter behind, Nars worked with legendary art director Giovanni Bianco to compile the exquisite collection of images; celebrated for their vibrant interplay of color and form

The book combines his sepia-toned portraits of native Tahitians, with environmental landscapes, all shot with a large-format camera

The book combines his sepia-toned portraits of native Tahitians, with environmental landscapes, all shot with a large-format camera

Nars, who was born in the South of France and cultivated an interest in fashion through his stylish mother, landed his first assistant job in Paris after attending the Carita make-up school there.

In 1984, encouraged by Vogue editor Polly Mellen, Nars headed to New York where he quickly established himself as an artist known for a punchy color palette and for taking risks on the runway and in his ad campaigns.

Nars sold his company to Shiseido in 2000, buying the private island in French Polynesia with some of the proceeds. But he remains the essential driver of the NARS brand, and continues to collaborate on the design of the packaging, advertising, and stand-alone stores.

The $100 book, which focuses on what is one of the 118 islands scattered in the South Pacific¿s turquoise waters, arrives in stores October 15

The $100 book, which focuses on what is one of the 118 islands scattered in the South Pacific's turquoise waters, arrives in stores October 15

The book features 'Black-and-white landscapes, still lifes and portraits of Tahitians - from children to people who are 100 years old. People with great faces

The book features 'Black-and-white landscapes, still lifes and portraits of Tahitians - from children to people who are 100 years old. People with great faces

Nars often looks to Tahiti and French Polynesia for his cosmetics and skincare line; such as Monoï Body Glow which captures the Monoï de Tahiti oil in its purest state for hydrated and naturally fragrant skin

Nars often looks to Tahiti and French Polynesia for his cosmetics and skincare line; such as Monoï Body Glow which captures the Monoï de Tahiti oil in its purest state for hydrated and naturally fragrant skin

Then in 2009, after a ten-year hiatus from the runway, Nars returned to do the makeup for Marc Jacobs’ fall show, the same year he celebrated his brand's 15th anniversary.

He has continued to hold a fascination with photographers, telling Vogue in 2004 that the art of photography is 'basically the same gesture as doing makeup: making somebody look beautiful, which is definitely a gesture of love in a way.'

And this fall Nars decided to turn his palette into an homage of the late photographer Guy Bourdin's work. Using the same 'explosion of colour, and also the extreme sophistication of the girls in his photographs,' Nars told The Telegraph, he poured Bourdin's atheistic into make-up.

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