Guy Bourdin’s Walking Legs presents a rare selection at the Michael Hoppen Gallery to coincide with the Somerset House exhibition.
Image Maker at London’s Somerset House is the largest ever exhibition of Guy Bourdin’s work, so with the addition of the forthcoming Walking Legs Exhibition at the Michael Hoppen Gallery starting Feb 5, it’s safe to say Bourdin is being celebrated to in full this year. A pioneer in fashion photography, Bourdin was constantly breaking and stretching the boundaries and nothing shows this more than his extraordinary Walking Legs series. Created for French shoe designer Charles Jourdan’s campaign in 1979, elements of the series later became Bourdin’s trademark; with the majority of his photographs only starring part of the models in question. In the Walking Legs series, inspired by his surrealist mentor Man Ray, Bourdin featured the model from the knee down in obscure and wonderful locations.
The Michael Hoppen Gallery is placed in the heart of Chelsea and home to one of the largest collections of photography, ranging back to the 19th century to modern day. The Bourdin exhibition is taking pride and place as the iconic photographer, celebrating the imperfections, integrity, humour and imagination of his photography from Feb 5-March 28, 2015.
Words: Elli Weir
Images: © Guy Bourdin Estate. Courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery.