“The Face Magazine: Culture Shift” at the National Portrait Gallery celebrates the magazine’s radical photography and cultural impact from 1980 to 2004. Curatorial consultant Lee Swillingham recalls its legacy, highlighting its innovative contributions to fashion, music, and pop culture. The exhibition features iconic images, celebrates diversity in beauty, and connects past and present audiences.
The exhibition “The Face Magazine: Culture Shift” at the National Portrait Gallery celebrates the innovative visual legacy of The Face, a magazine renowned for boundary-pushing photography between 1980 and 2004. Curatorial consultant Lee Swillingham recalls that a shoot by Sean Ellis and Isabella Blow, inspired by the film “Excalibur”, felt timeless and foreshadowed the magazine’s enduring impact.
Founded by Nick Logan and Julie Hillier using £3,500, The Face established itself as a cornerstone of British pop culture, reflecting the edge of avant-garde fashion, music, and art. It set itself apart with a commitment to risk-taking and creativity, influenced by Logan’s background in music journalism. The exhibition emphasises its fashion roots but also showcases its broader cultural influences through an immersive experience featuring music from artists like Portishead and Blur.
The exhibition features over eighty photographers whose work defined The Face, including renowned figures like David LaChapelle and Inez and Vinoodh. Iconic celebrities such as Boy George, Kurt Cobain, and Kate Moss are central to its narrative. Moss, discovered by photographer Corinne Day, became the magazine’s quintessential face, making her first cover appearance in July 1990.
The Face not only shaped careers but also redefined beauty standards, showcasing diverse representations in fashion. The Buffalo style, led by Jamie Morgan and Ray Petri, exemplified this with androgynous looks that broke away from traditional norms. Stylist Mitzi Lorenz highlighted this blend of culture and gender in visual storytelling, continuing the magazine’s spirit of inclusion.
The curatorial team aims to acknowledge all contributors involved in photo shoots, bridging the experiences of past and present generations. Younger audiences express enthusiasm, discovering these visuals for the first time. Swillingham emphasises the personal connection of The Face’s team to their work, fostering authenticity and community around the magazine’s output.
“The Face Magazine: Culture Shift” will be on display at the National Portrait Gallery until May 18, 2025, showcasing the rich cultural archive of a pivotal publication.
The exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery highlights The Face’s significant cultural impact through innovative photography and inclusivity. Celebrating its legacy, it showcases the transformative careers it nurtured, its edgy approach to beauty, and its connection with audiences, especially younger generations. With a vibrant array of influential imagery and music, it bridges the past with the present, ensuring its continued relevance in the cultural conversation.
Original Source: observer.com