He often scowls when photographed in public.
But
Kanye West insists that his typically glum appearance is a tribute to
the 'cool' expressions seen during the late 19th-century.
The
37-year-old revealed on Thursday at The Daily Front Row's inaugural
Fashion Los Angeles Awards at the Sunset Tower Hotel that he refuses to
smile for the camera, despite being happy, after taking inspiration from
a history book he found in a Parisian flea market.
Smiling on the inside: Kanye West
revealed on Thursday at The Daily Front Row's inaugural Fashion Los
Angeles Awards that he looks glum in photos because he was inspired by
the images of the 1800s realism art movement
Glum: The 37-year-old flashed his usual 'smile on the inside' at LAX in November
'Back when I was working on Yeezus, I saw this book from the 1800s and it was velvet-covered with brass and everything,' the Gold Digger rapper said while presenting an award to Milk Studios founder Mazdack Rassi.
'I looked at
all these people's photos and they look so real and their outfits were
incredible and they weren't smiling and people, you know the paparazzi,
always come up to me, "Why you not smiling?" and I think, not smiling
makes me smile.
'When you see paintings in an old castle, people are not smiling cause it just wouldn't look as cool.'
Happy: The rapper posed alongside the night's honoree Jeremy Scott and Miley Cyrus
The
father of 19-month-old daughter North West wore a satin
champagne-colored blazer over a white graphic T-shirt, black trousers
and black shoes.
The
outspoken rapper attended the event without his wife Kim Kardashian,
and went on to give a fervent speech akin to a sermon, saying that he
believes fashion is God's work.
'In my opinion, God is the number one creator, and anytime we create, we're an extension of doing his work on earth.
'That's why we're here. What can we do for humanity? And you know, in a way, fashion is what defines the time.
God's work: The rapper gave an eight-minute-long speech in which he stated that fashion is the work of God
Famous faces: Miley Cyrus, Jeremy Scott, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Kanye West and Mazdack Rassi sat front row
'Everyone
has some form of fashion every single day. We have the power to change
the world. I believe that through design, because design is the closest
to truth, problem solving truth is the closest to love, and love is the
closest thing to God, and God is love.'
He added: 'Everyone is a fashion insider. It’s illegal to be naked.'
Nearly eight minutes after speaking, the hitmaker finally exhausted his tongue.
'I don't know if I even made one f***ing good point,' he said, ending with a wide smile.
Other
celebrity presenters included Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Kerry
Washington, Drew Barrymore, Nicole Richie, Ciara, Rachel Zoe and Minka
Kelly.
Jeremy
Scott was the night's honoree, and budding fashion world it-girl Gigi
Hadid, daughter of Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Foster,
was named Model of the year.
