"Beauty Culture" at The Annenberg Space for Photography
Backstage at the Paul Smith Women fashion show, London 09/13/2002, photo courtesy of Felicia Webb
What is beauty and how is it defined in modern culture? That is what The Annenberg Space for Photography will attempt to answer in it’s next exhibition. “Beauty Culture” is a photographic exploration of feminine beauty and how it has evolved through the 20th and 21st centuries.
The exhibition, which opens on May 21, will include hundreds of images from legendary photographers such as Man Ray, Guy Bourdin, Melvin Sokolsky, Herb Ritts, David LaChapelle, Ellen von Unwerth, Patrick Demarchelier,Terry Richardson - and the list goes on....
By examining topics such as “The Marilyn Syndrome,” “Pageant Culture,” and “Androgyny,” the exhibition will create a social dialogue about beauty. Imagine how the beauty ideal has changed over the years from the leading ladies of the silver screen to super models and icons of pop culture – all of which have been captured and glamourized on film. From conventional to unconventional the show includes beauties such as Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Bo Derek, Kate Moss, Kristen McMenamy, Grace Jones, Madonna, Venus Williams, Gisele Bündchen and Angelina Jolie.
Will it be daring? Yes. Provocative? Most definitely. Controversial? Quite possibly. That is the nature of beauty with all its mystique and glamour, not to mention the hype created by the multi-billion dollar industries that surround it.
The exhibition will also include a documentary short film by Lauren Greenfield which expands on the culture of beauty theme. In addition, the IRIS Night lecture series will present leading photographers, filmmakers and stylists who will discuss the pursuit of the capturing the feminine ideal.
“Beauty Culture” opens on May 21 and runs through November 27. For more information go to www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org.
