The series PERMAID is a collaborative project between Aeschleah DeMartino and Nicolette Mishkan. The project was born in May of 2014 when Aeschleah and Nicolette took their first photograph of Permaid in Malibu, CA. Together, they create the story of a mermaid found washed ashore in Malibu and adopted by a Persian family. Permaid’s fish out of water story is told through photography, video, performance, site specific installation, text, social media, and graffiti. Permaid reflects the ebbs and flows of social attitudes, trends, and the animal within the human spirit. Her stories are based on real life experiences from Nicolette and Aeschleah’s lives, as well as people they know. The project highlights the fantastical aspects of everyday life through her physical absurdity, garnering the attention from her audience to speak up about environmental activism. By environmental activism the artists behind Permaid mean change. “Bringing national awareness to the cruelty that is Sea World, and international awareness to the rising tide of sea poaching that’s quite frankly, destroying our reefs, ecosystems & planet.” When it comes to inspiration the duo sites rip tides, jelly fish, squid ink, bioluminescence as well as everyone’s favorite underwater Goddess Ursula. Which seems fitting because the work itself is dark, sleek and shiny, like dolphin sex. Whatever that is. “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody who hates peaches.” by Dita Von Teese is the duo’s favorite quote. Quote that describes them to a T.
Back in November 2016, Permaid’s Instagram account was suddenly deactivated because it “violated the community guidelines” and was deemed “sexually explicit”. Since then, Permaid has been privately metamorphosing. As the artists say the reason they are on this path is due to exhifishionism, which we think is a playful rake on exhibitionism. This editorial is a first exclusive editorial debut. It’s also an homage to The Brentwood Manor series, which is about a recurring dream of being trapped alone, in a Persian mansion.
As for what is next for the Persian Mermaid of Malibu, well that would be a run for President. Now I wonder what that White House would look like? Perhaps with a touch on latex? Or that fabled dolphin sex?