From beautiful and bold to stylish and understated, Pablo Kümin brings wigs to life. Here, he unpacks his process…
When it comes to wigs, Pablo craft. His work seeks to challenge the possibilities of hair, bending and reshaping the rules at every turn. For this shoot, which was a collaboration between Pablo, Schwarzkopf and renowned beauty and culture publication, TUSH Magazine, the hair stylist highlights how wigs are the perfect tool for creating the unimaginable.
Tell us about how you started out and nurtured your technique?
In 2008, during my training at the Kuhn Academy in Zurich, we learned to cut hair using the techniques of Vidal Sassoon and TONI & GUY. Sassoon was inspired by architecture and the Bauhaus. In fact, the entire modern hair industry is based on these principles.
You often work with wigs. What fascinates you about them compared to natural hair?
Even in elementary school, I loved working with my hands in craft classes. I have an object in front of me and it becomes a sculpture. Mistakes can happen during the creative process, and that’s a good thing because they can lead me to unexpected places and improve the final result.
You work internationally and with major fashion houses. How do you navigate the tension between art and commerce?
I really enjoy working in both worlds. For me, it’s like feeding both the left and right sides of the brain simultaneously – each has its advantages. On one hand, I want to build something in the commercial space that can also financially support my creative work. Together, these sides can grow.
Your style is both punk and avant-garde. Are there visual or cultural references you keep returning to?
My style is really a little journey through my life. One of my strongest influences was the underground techno scene I was part of as a teenager. At those parties with dress codes, people were very punk. Even back then, I was designing and creating characters – and that’s exactly the core of my work today.