Over the course of a single day in December 1992, photographer Kevin Davies took a series of photos of David Bowie for his upcoming album Black Tie White Noise.
While some of the photos were approved by Bowie for press use, most of the original rolls of film, contact sheets and prints were put into storage where they remained until 2020.
Discovering over 400 film negatives in pristine condition, Davies realised the cultural significance of the collection and worked with Bowie biographer Dylan Jones to bring the collection to the public.
We felt quite privileged to see the David Bowie - A London Day exhibition in the Fitzrovia Chapel. The chapel is beautiful and provided a perfect backdrop for the collection of prints.
The chapel features stunning marble flooring, intricate gold leaf detailing, and spectacular stained glass windows, including the remarkable east window, which bathes the space in colorful light.
The ceiling is adorned with exquisite mosaics, inspired by the Byzantine style, making the chapel a masterpiece of art and architecture.
Fitzrovia Chapel was completed in 1891 as part of the Middlesex Hospital. Today the chapel is all that remains of the hospital complex, a tiny red brick building nestled in amongst modern apartment and commercial buildings. After the hospital was closed in 2005 and subsequently demolished, Fitzrovia Chapel underwent a careful restoration which completed in 2015.
We visited the exhibition in its final week in March but the chapel is open to the public and provides details of upcoming exhibitions on their website.
Fitzrovia Chapel
Fitzroy Place
2 Pearson Square
London W1T 3BF
April has been quite a month! I had eye surgery on the 2nd April and it took much longer to recover than I'd anticipated. I couldn't exercise for a week afterwards, not that I'd have wanted to, and I'm still adjusting to the changes in my near-and-middle-distance vision. I'll have to see how it affects my photography but haven't taken my camera out yet.
Just when I was settling down, I fell down the stairs and twisted my ankle badly. I'm recovering now but have agreed that April was not the most auspicious month. Here's to more adventures in the months to come!
The Chapel looks stunning. A beatuiful place to display an art collection.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you got the opportunity to visit the Bowie exhibition.
It was beautiful. I've signed up to their newsletter for future events.
Deletewhat an inspiring place and event to attend, the stained glass, the walls and the floors are a delight to watch. added to that are some rather stunning photos (https://www.fitzroviachapel.org/our-history/) . i hope you are feeling much better now, Mandy!
ReplyDeleteI'm finally feeling myself again Ayush, thank you!
DeleteFirst of all, Mandy, OH NO about your eye surgery and fall, knowing how such things can throw you for a loop, especially if you're a photographer. Here's to all the get-well-wishes you need to recover fully.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, OMG about that David Bowie exhibit AND the chapel. I'd be hard-pressed to know what to concentrate on more! What an experience for you.
Absolutely! Both the chapel and portraits were a treat! And thank you. I'm finally starting to feel normal again.
DeleteWow, that looks like a spectacular background for a magnificent photo display of one of my heros. I'm so glad that photographer rediscovered all the images he took of Bowie. Your photos are great too.
ReplyDeleteHe's one of my heroes too - I'm eternally grateful to my parents for introducing me to his music
DeleteWhat an amazing place to have that exhibition of David Bowie. He would have loved the whole entourage, as the arts person he was. What a privilege to have been there. And great photography from you.
ReplyDeleteOn a second not, I am so so sorry about your eye-operation and you falling down the stairs. I do hope that you find some improvement with your eyes and that you leg is healed.
Have a lovely weekend.
I agree, he would have loved it! I'm finally feeling better, thank you!
DeleteGood to hear you are recovered. What a delightful chapel!
ReplyDeleteIt's such great space - highly recommended if you're ever in London
DeleteI love how this exhibition takes Bowie as its subject, but it is equally a representation of the afterlife of analogue photography. I'd like to visit the Fitzrovia Chapel when I'm in London next time as it looks like a place of calm and contemplation and a fantastic place where people can step out of the everyday hustle to explore and examine not only the visiting works of art but also the beauty and detail of the Chapel itself. Thanks for sharing, and have a wonderful day :) Greetings from the sunny Sligo :) Aiva xx
ReplyDeleteI think you'd like the chapel a lot! You're so right about the afterlife of analogue photography - well said!
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