Portraits of a Young Chloë Sevigny and Harmony Korine in 90s New York

In 1994, when Kevin hat invited 22-year-old Chloë Sevigny to his studio for a portrait, neither of them could anticipate how her upcoming role in Larry Clark’s generation-defining film Kids would launch her acting career and cement her status as a downtown fashion it girl.

Hatt, a Canadian photographer known for his studio portraiture and publisher of photo journal Kit and Caboodlehad met Sevigny through his photo assistant in Washington Square Park. Sevigny was already gaining traction as an emerging figure in the underground scene, having been cast in music videos for Sonic Youth and The Lemonheads. After meeting each other, Hatt would occasionally drop in and say hi to her at Liquid Sky, the cult 90s fashion store where she worked.

One day, Sevigny suggested a date for them to shoot together and invited her then-boyfriend, Kids screenwriter and co-star Harmony Korine. During their session, Hatt describes the young couple as low-key and innocent, with Sevigny self-styled in a mix of Helmut Lang-inspired thrifted clothes, both seemingly unaware of the success and recognition the film would propel them into.

Published by Dashwood Books nearly 30 years after the pictures were taken, Chloë and Harmony ‘94 marks the first time all portraits are shown together in one publication. Upon the zine’s release, Kevin Hatt speaks about meeting Chloë and Harmony, New York’s downtown scene, Dashwood Books, and the undeniable cultural impact of Kids.

“I used to shoot in a studio on Spring Street, SoHo, which was about two blocks away from where I lived. That neighbourhood was quite a focal point for young creative people. It’s crazy to think, but I would see Henry Rollins and Jim Jarmusch at my Korean deli, then I’d say hi to Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore walking down the street. Adam Yauch lived on the corner, and Moby lived across the street. It was such a vibrant neighbourhood. That was New York, I guess. I’ve heard people talk about New York in such a way, like they could walk the streets and not be mobbed as a celebrity, but it’s so different now.

“I with chloë [Sevigny] in Washington Square Park. My photo assistant was always saying, ‘Oh, you’ve got to meet this person and take their picture.’ She was working around the corner from my studio at a clothing store on Lafayette Street called Liquid Sky. I’d often stop by and say hi. One day she said, ‘Hey, I’m gonna be in the city this weekend. Let’s do that portrait.

“It was really adorable how awkward they were … it’s crazy to think how their lives changed that next year and how innocent they seem in these pictures” – Kevin Hatt

“Chloë is really low-key. During our session, she kept asking me, ‘What should I do?’ Then she mentioned that Harmony [Korine] was going to stop by. I don’t think Harmony was really prepared for me to take his picture. I think he just came to hang out and said hi because I’d also met him in that neighbourhood. I must’ve said something like, ‘Oh, get in the picture!’ It was really adorable how awkward they were – they weren’t touchy-feely or anything like that. I asked them to kiss, and then Chloë made that gesture to kiss Harmony. That’s one of my favourite pictures I’ve ever taken. On that day, they were both so shy. It’s crazy to think how their lives changed that next year and how innocent they seem in these pictures.

“There was excitement about Kids coming out, but I don’t think anyone knew the impact it would have. We had all lived horribly through the AIDS epidemic, and Larry Clark’s film made a statement that you don’t have to be gay to get AIDS. It was really profound.

“Every now and again, someone rediscovers the Chloë and Harmony pictures, and they recirculate on social media. Some of them have been published before, like in Chloë’s self-titled book. She said it was her mother’s favourite photo of her.

“I first met David [Strettell] from Dashwood Books in the 80s but I don’t think we became friendly till the last ten years or so. Dashwood is a really special place. I go to their events and it’s full of young people embracing photography and photo books. All these kids are interested in film photography and making their own books. One of the reasons I hadn’t made a book was because I didn’t feel like the work was there, but seeing all this work being published is inspiring. The pictures are usually only shown one or two at a time, so showing them altogether really reflects the time I spent with Chloë and Harmony that day.”

Chloë and Harmony ‘94 by Kevin Hatt is published by Dashwood Books, and is out now.