The National Portrait Gallery has opened an exhibition titled “The Face Magazine: Culture Shift” to celebrate the first 25 years of The Face magazine. It showcases iconic photographs of celebrities and highlights the magazine’s influence on British youth culture from 1980 to 2004. The exhibition features insights from former editors about its historic significance and legacy, especially in relation to the changing cultural landscape.
A new exhibition, titled “The Face Magazine: Culture Shift”, has opened at the National Portrait Gallery to commemorate the first 25 years of The Face magazine, which operated from 1980 to 2004. The exhibition features iconic photography of celebrities like Kate Moss and David Bowie. The gallery highlights The Face as a groundbreaking British publication that significantly influenced youth culture and trends in music, fashion, and art. The magazine was relaunched in 2019 in both print and online formats.
Ekow Eshun, former assistant editor, stated, “The Face was probably the most influential magazine when it came to style culture.” Organisers aim to illustrate the magazine’s substantial impact on the cultural landscape from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Eshun noted that prior to the internet, magazines held vast sway over style and culture, enriching Britain’s visual sophistication.
Eshun recalled how The Face allowed for a unique juxtaposition of small and large ideas, blending fashion trends with complex theories. Nick Logan, who founded The Face, recognised a gap in the market for a publication catering to youth’s diverse interests, aligning with the rise of rave culture.
Lee Swillingham, former art director, described The Face in the 1990s as a vibrant workplace where he was granted creative freedom. He transformed its aesthetic by incorporating colourful and energetic design while embracing digital technologies for enhanced photography. He attributed the magazine’s closure in 2004 to shifts in culture and competition from the internet.
Sabina Jaskot-Gill, senior curator of photographs at the gallery, remarked that The Face has consistently pushed cultural boundaries, documenting and shaping contemporary culture with its innovative fashion and portrait photography. Its contributors were granted the freedom to challenge norms and generate cultural shifts.
The exhibition “The Face Magazine: Culture Shift” at the National Portrait Gallery celebrates the influential legacy of The Face magazine. Featuring iconic photography, it highlights the publication’s significant role in shaping British youth culture from the 1980s to 2000s. Key figures associated with The Face emphasise its lasting impact and its ability to blend various cultural ideas and concepts.
Original Source: www.bbc.com