Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

The Playboy ‘shock model’ who posed nude at the Vatican and was partially naked in a burka to protest organised religion has now turned her attention to luxury consumerism and the effects on the environment.

Belgian model Marisa Papen, 27, made headlines around the world for her anti-religious controversies which included posing nude with a giant crucifix at the Vatican.

She also caused outrage in Israel after posing in front of Jerusalem’s Wailing Wall as well as in Turkey where she lifted up her burka to reveal her private parts inside Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia – a former Byzantine church and Ottoman mosque which is now a museum.

In 2016, she posed as a firefighter to trick her way onto the roof of the iconic Hermes store in Biarritz in France and she is again turning her attention to the luxury goods manufacturer now, some four years later.

She has teamed up with Dimitri Mussard, the eldest member of the seventh generation of the Mussard-Hermes family, who is supporting her stand against luxury consumerism.

Papen, who calls herself an ‘artivist’, and Mussard, who is also the son of sustainability pioneer Pascale Mussard, have also joined forces with the Frank Rose Gallery and Brazilian chef Alex Atala to get their message across.

Together, they have compiled a series of conceptual artworks titled ‘Firefighter’ inspired by Marisa’s use of the uniform to climb on the roof that conveys the importance of sustainability.

The group has identified three key issues to work on together, the use of materials harmful to the environment, unsustainable packaging, and reducing the industry’s carbon footprint.

One of the most popular fashion items for example are silk scarves which also includes cruelty and Papen said: “To produce one kilogramme of silk, over 5,000 silkworms have to be sacrificed.

“Once they start pupating in their cocoons, they are boiled alive and one kilogramme of silk requires 80 kilogrammes of cocoons which form the basis of the material.”

The group has instead produced a similar organic material to silk that they believe should be considered as a viable alternative.

Mussard said: “Every year, we become more involved in social causes that help people, and preserve nature and Brazilian heritage in general.

“For this reason, we support this project in partnership with Alex Atala, Marisa Papen and Frank Rose. It is another step we take towards the common good.”

Packaging is another topic the group is targeting and they have produced an ‘art crate’ made from recycled wood as a sustainable alternative to the disposable crates currently used.

With profits from the sales of their products, the group will directly support the ATA Institute, founded by Brazilian chef Alex Atala.

The ATA Institute supports indigenous tribes affected by the Amazon wildfires last year.

In November last year, Papen posed for a series of photos in Iceland to highlight the effects of climate change as part of her project ‘PLASTICSUSHI’.

Marisa told Central European News (CEN): “I had to strip off and lie on the ice. I didn’t see any other naked person jumping around laughing, it was certainly a challenge but I enjoyed every moment.”

The shock model explained that the nude images do not show her face which symbolises how everyone blames someone else for climate change.

Marisa, who enjoys reading and writing poetry, said in one of her poems for the project: “Our procrastinated mistakes are faceless, but there is no way to unsee what has already been seen.”

In the images, the Playboy model wanted to show how beautiful the Icelandic landscapes are while highlighting that it is rapidly disappearing.

She told CEN: “I chose Iceland because I can look small and insignificant in the vast landscapes, just like every one of us dealing with climate change alone.”

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