“I came from music and thought there was nothing more compelling until I discovered filmmaking and realized what real magic is,” says Jonas Åkerlund, the vanguard Swedish director whose silent film-inspired music video for Coldplay’s new single “Magic” stars Chris Martin as a bespectacled traveling illusionist who falls for Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang. In a bespoke curation of on-set photography for NOWNESS, Åkerlund draws on his own, twisted Big Top experience. “I’ve been obsessed with circuses and live performances all my life,” says Åkerlund, who directed a circus in Stockholm in the early years of his career, long before pop collaborations with Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and The Prodigy, as well as ambitious feature films including the 2002 Brittany Murphy and Jason Schwartzman starring, Spun. “There was nothing traditional in my shows; it was a mix of circus acts, stunts, dancers, films and DJs. I tried to sell the show in Vegas but I was way ahead of my time. The show was too extreme, even for Vegas.” 

Photographer: Jonas Åkerlund; Costume Designer: B Åkerlund; Production Designer: Emma Fairley; Hair & Makeup: Dominie Till; Ziyi Makeup: Ozzy Salvatierra; Graphics: Robin Olofsson; Photo Assistant: Luke Fisher; Retouching: Anders Thessing.

Look one: Chris Martin's wardrobe exclusively by Greg Lauren throughout
Zhang Ziyi: Headpiece, earrings, bracelet & neckless: Lynn Ban archives; dress: vintage; rings: Loree Rodkin & Elise Dray; shoes Giuseppe Zanotti

Look two
Chris Martin: Gunner Foxx House of Hats
Zhang Ziyi: Headpiece: vintage; earrings: Lynn Ban archives; arm piece: Atelier Swarovski; body suit: vintage; shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti

Look three
Chris Martin: Boots by Brooks Brothers; laced-up boots: vintage
Zhang Ziyi: Crystal sun glasses by: A-morir; rings & earrings: Loree Rodkin; Neckless & bracelets: Lynn Bann archives;Boots: Giorgio Armani; Outfit vintage

Look four
Zhang Ziyi: Headband: vintage with a Lynn Ban archive neckless worn as headband; dress: Vivienne Westwood; cape & fur: vintage; hand-jeweled pieces from Lynn Bann Archives; shoes by: Christian Louboutin; sword diamond neckless & earrings: Loree Rodkin; ring: Elise Dray

Ziyi Zhang pink kimono look
Crystal headpiece: Lynn Bann archives; diamond earrings: Loree Rodkin; kimono & boots: vintage