A new exhibition has commenced at the National Portrait Gallery to commemorate the initial 25 years of The Face magazine, a lifestyle publication that was active from 1980 to 2004.
Titled “The Face Magazine: Culture Shift,” the exhibition features renowned photographs of cultural icons such as Kate Moss, David Bowie, and the band Blur.
Describing the publication as “a cult British magazine that has influenced the preferences of the nation’s youth,” the gallery highlights The Face’s impact. The magazine was revived in both print and online formats in 2019.
Ekow Eshun, a former assistant editor of The Face, remarked, “The Face likely was the most impactful magazine regarding style culture.”
The organizers intend for the exhibition to utilize portraiture as a means to investigate The Face’s “significant influence” during the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
Eshun explained to the BBC: “This was an era prior to the internet and social media, when magazines wielded considerable influence. The Face stands out as a major force in shaping style culture.”
He further noted, “British society became increasingly visually sophisticated, engaging with music, style, fashion, and film at a deeper level, thanks to the intellectual discourse fostered by The Face.”
Reflecting on his teenage years in suburban London, Eshun shared, “I devoured The Face as a teenager, absorbing the diverse articles from various journalists.”
“Upon becoming an editor, I embraced the same ethos – you could explore minor details of fashion trends while simultaneously contemplating larger ideas like post-structuralist French philosophy, post-modernism, and speculative fiction.”
He highlighted that The Face was one of the first platforms to value both the small and significant aspects of culture together.
The publication was launched by Nick Logan, who was previously the editor of New Musical Express (NME) and the creator of the teen music magazine Smash Hits.
Curators noted that Logan identified an opportunity in the market for a monthly magazine targeting a youth demographic interested in a myriad of topics overlooked by other publications.
The magazine’s aesthetic resonated with the rise of a new club scene and the subsequent boom in rave culture.
Lee Swillingham, the former art director of The Face and a consultant curator for the exhibition, reminisced about the magazine in the 1990s: “It was an incredible workplace. At just 23, I became art director and enjoyed complete creative freedom.”
“I took over following the grunge era, which was characterized by black and white photography, and transformed it into a vibrant, colorful publication. We were among the early adopters of digital technology to enhance our images.”
When asked about the magazine’s closure in 2004, Swillingham explained, “The early 2000s brought cultural shifts, and the magazine struggled against the rise of the internet alongside a saturated print market.”
He continued, “It’s worth mentioning that The Face made a successful comeback in 2019 and is thriving.”
Sabina Jaskot-Gill, the senior curator of photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, added, “Since its inception in 1980, The Face has been groundbreaking, not merely recording contemporary culture but actively shaping and reshaping it.”
“Throughout its history, The Face has featured some of the most innovative fashion and portrait photography of its time, always granting its contributors the creative liberty to challenge the status quo and foster cultural evolution.”
The post Portraits of Influence: National Gallery Exhibition Honors The Face Magazines Enduring Legacy in Youth Culture first appeared on London.
Author : London News
Publish date : 2025-02-22 09:34:00
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