Adam Ant: Dandy in the Underworld
aaamusic | On 29, Feb 2012
Adam Ant: Dandy in the Underworld A Photographic Retrospective Running: 7th March – 29th April 2012
Proud Camden is delighted to present Adam Ant: Dandy in the Underworld, a collection of iconic portraits of the Post Punk star that span his extraordinary, eccentric and eclectic musical career.
This collection, co-curated by Adam Ant, brings together shots from Chris Duffy, Gerard McNamara, Jill Furmanovsky, Denis O’Regan, Chris Cuffaro, Hannah Domagala, Robert Matheu, David Corio and Janette Beckman: photographers whom each worked with Adam Ant at different stages of his musical development, up to the present day. In full swashbuckling attire during the New Wave/Post Punk haze of the 80s or in quiet, song-writing reflection; each photographer’s unique portraiture adds to the rich narrative of this exhibition.
To launch this exclusive photographic collection, Adam Ant himself will be taking to Proud Camden’s main gallery stage for a live performance to follow the exhibition’s VIP private view. 100% of proceeds from the event will be donated to Adam Ant’s chosen charity DEBRA, a national charity working on behalf of individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
Thirty-five years after Adam and the Ants originally formed, this exhibition is a vast photographic portrait of the band’s infamous front-man. From intimate group shots with original band mates, The Ants; to flamboyant stage performances as a solo artist: this collection reveals the evolution of Adam Ant as a British icon.
| Date:
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7th March – 29thApril 2012
Tuesday 6th March with Live performance 8:30pm
11am to 5pm Mon – Sun
Free |
Address:
Website:
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The Horse HospitalStables Market
Chalk Farm Road London NW1 8AH
http://proudcamden.viewtickets.co.uk
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BACKGROUND
DEBRA
DEBRA is the national charity working on behalf of individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – a rare genetic condition which causes the skin to blister and shear at the slightest friction, or even spontaneously. There are at least 5,000 people living with this devastating condition in the UK and 500,000 worldwide.
EB has a number of distinct forms: at its mildest, blistering is confined to the hands and feet. In more severe cases, the whole body is affected and wounds heal very slowly, giving rise to scarring, physical deformity and significant disability. Blistering can also affect inner body linings, such as the mouth and oesophagus and, in its most advanced form, EB can be fatal in infancy.
DEBRA was founded in 1978 and provides an expert team of nurses and social care staff to work directly with families affected by EB. The charity also commissions world-leading research into the condition with the aim of finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for EB.
Proud Galleries
Proud Galleries was launched in Autumn 1998. Its ethos? To bring the very best in high quality photography to the mainstream market. Proud instantly took the photography world by storm and quickly grew into Europe’s most popular private photography gallery.
Today the Proud brand runs one of the most visited destinations in London. Two galleries, a live music venue, a superclub and two Cabaret clubs have cemented its success and in a harsh economic climate, Proud continues to expand.
Never failing to exhibit the work of the world’s best photographers, Proud has hosted shows by everyone from Terry O’Neill to Jerry Schatzberg, Gered Mankowitz to Ken Russell. With star-studded launch parties and some of the best press coverage in the country, the unique Proud formula has situated the company at the very top of its game.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jill Furmanovsky originally studied textile and graphic design at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design from 1972 to 1974. After only two weeks training in photography in 1972, she became the official photographer at one of London’s premier rock venues, the Rainbow Theatre. She has photographed many of the biggest names in rock music, including: Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Mike Oldfield, Bob Marley, Eric Clapton, Blondie, The Police, The Plea, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Pretenders, and Oasis. She has also produced videos for Oasis and The Pretenders, and continues to work in the music industry. Furmanovsky has received several awards for her music photography, including ‘The Jane Bown Observer Portrait Award’ for her portrait of Charlie Watts in 1992. She is the founder of Rock Archives.
Denis O’Regan has photographed Punk, Grunge, New Romantics, and travelled the world as personal tour photographer to the Rolling Stones, Queen, Duran Duran, David Bowie, KISS, Pink Floyd and many others. His ability to document a tour or festival backstage and onstage has produced exclusive material for official books, album covers as well as magazines and newspapers around the globe. He has been the photographer of choice for many MTV Awards ceremonies, Download festivals, Live Aid, Coachella and Glastonbury.
Gerard McNamara has photographed Adam & And The Ants, Blondie, The Specials, Bow Wow Wow, U2, Iggy Pop and Siouxsie And The Banshees. Mcnamara’s first concert was the Kate Bush’s enchanting Tour Of Life show at the Hammersmith Odeon in May 1979. From that first gig, with his first camera (the humble Olympus OM1) came his first published photograph which appeared in Smash Hits magazine. He has since had his photographs appear in Mojo, Uncut, The Face, NME, Record Mirror, Sounds and New Music News.
David Corio began his professional career in 1978 taking photographs for New Musical Express, followed by The Face, Time Out, and Black Echoes, covering a wide range of music and portraiture. After a stint as a music writer at City Limits, he worked as a freelance photographer for the Daily Telegraph, The Times, Q, Theatre Royal Stratford, and Greensleeves Records, among others.
Chris Duffy, son of legendary 60’s photographer Duffy, grew up with the godfathers of fashion photography David Bailey and Terence Donovan. His first commission was with 19 Magazine and Hamilton’s London held his first photographic exhibition in 1983. Chris’s career has seen him work with the most famous of photographers and celebrities as he moved from stills to moving images and from London to Los Angeles working as a director of photography on commercials and pop promos. He has worked for GQ, Esquire, Loaded and Men’s Health Magazine.
Janette Beckman began her career at the dawn of punk rock working for The Face and Melody Maker. She shot bands from The Clash to The Specials as well as 3 Police album covers. Her powerful portraits celebrating music and street style have been exhibited at Paul Smith London, Morrison Hotel Gallery NYC, Collette Paris, Isetan Tokyo, Kong Gallery Shanghai and Rock Archive. Since moving to New York she has shot everyone from entertainers to politicians, with photographs appearing in Esquire, Rolling Stone, People, Interview, London Sunday Times Magazine, Observer Magazine, Doc Marten, Converse, Schott, Casio, Warner Brothers Music and Universal Music.
Chris Cuffarobegan his career shooting local rock shows for fun. He soon progressed to officially photographing headline acts and, since moving to LA in the early 1980s, has worked with a succession of top musical artists and celebrities, including George Michael, Iggy Pop, Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Nirvana. Recently Cuffaro has directed a number of music videos, commercials and independent films while his dramatic portraits of a veteran actors and film stars (Dustin Hoffman, Johnny Depp, Vince Vaughan, etc) have featured in the pages of Entertainment Weekly, US, Stuff, Maxim, Premiere, British Elle and W. He has also worked in collaboaration with HBO, Fox and Nickelodeon on recent TV ad campaigns for ‘Glee’ and ‘So You Think You Can Dance’.
Robert Matheu is a rock photographer based in Los Angeles. He started his career as a staff photographer for the legendary Creem Magazine. He photographed the Stooges at some of their earliest shows and has maintained a close working relationship with the group. His work has appeared in Playboy, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, and Mojo, as well as on over 200 albums, including the Stooges’ most recent album, The Weirdness. He oversaw the 2001 return of CREEM magazine, as well as the 2007 hardcover anthology CREEM: America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine.
Hannah Domagala is a London based photographer, fine artist, actress and poet. She has contributed photographs to Time Out, Mojo, NME, Uncut, and has collaborated with erotic photographer Ben Westwood on numerous projects. In 2010 Adam Ant invited her to become his official photographer for his 2011 concert tours and publicity campaign.
