Lena Proudlock's 'Carnival in Rio, 1978'
When asked to name great
photographers few of us can list more than David Bailey, Annie Leibovitz and
David La Chapelle.
But, tucked away in a rainy
corner of Marylebone, a pop up exhibition of Lena Proudlock's 'Carnival in Rio,
1978' is changing that.
This simple exhibition offers
great, honest photography in a refreshingly unfussy setting. A selection of
bold, giant prints, created in collaboration with Douglas Villiers, hang in the
mock industrial Imitate Modern gallery on Devonshire Street.
Each carefully curated image
offers a glimpse into an age before sexual self-consciousness from a culture
celebrating sexuality and the body beautiful.
Daring, provocative and
spontaneous each image hints at stories which the energetic and welcoming Lena
was happy to tell.
'Rio Bikinis' for example, is a
glorious beach shot featuring six beautiful women in an array of masks,
lingerie and bikinis.
Lena approached and asked the
group to pose and, in doing so, creating arguably the greatest picture of the
exhibition and one proudly displayed in Lena's own home.
To the back of the gallery, 'The
Big Leap', is a dreamy blue watercolour, starkly interrupted by an ecstatic
leaping boy.
When asked, Lena pensively
recalled that maybe she asked him to run and leap into the frame, she couldn't
be sure. The memory may fade but the image is eternal.
'The Big Leap' also features on
the peruvian cotton t-shirts designed as part of Lena's son, Oliver
Proudlock's, Serge DeNimes clothing range.
The Made in Chelsea stars clothing line, was the other element of
the exhibition, the wearable element. Downstairs, in a velvet boudoir, guests
were invited to buy their own prêt-à-porter t-shirt homages to Lena's
photography, whilst sipping on the quirky elderflower soda stream cocktails.
It may have been April showers
outside, but it was Carnival '78 at Imitate Modern.
Twitter: @sdnimes
Great review - fab t-shirts!
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