Sunday afternoon with David Bailey’s family, Fashion Icons, and the Rolling Stones

The Gallery

I have always been a fan of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) – perfectly located behind Trafalgar Square. You can spend a couple of hours wandering around, absorbing a masterpiece or two, getting an insight into a photographer’s or artist’s head. A delightful thing about this is you are spitting distance from many good eateries – and Selfridges is a mere cab ride away.

Not only that, I’m quite fond of the gallery restaurant on the third floor. It has a fantastic view of the square. It’s always a good idea to reward yourself with a glass of chilled Chablis (or something of that calibre). But only after you have expanded your pupils, and knowledge at their latest exhibition!

There is a perfect bar in the restaurant for such a reward. Perch yourself on one of the bar stools (again, only after the exhibition). Enjoy gazing out of the window at the London rooftops, feeling content about your recent brain expansion. All the while sipping your vino, and reflecting on what most provoked your optical nerves.

The exhibition

Stardust is broken up into categories, in separate rooms – Catherine Bailey, Delhi Revolution, and Black and White Icons to name a few.

Being a fashion bunny myself, I was rather taken with the Fashion Icons and Beauty section. There are some stunning portraits of Jean Shrimpton, Kate Moss and a fabulous shot of Alexander Mcqueen. He’s kilted up, mid-air, looking happy and full of life – such a shame.

David has a great way of playing with his subjects, and getting what he wants from them. From pouting, jumping, to squinting, and big cheesy grins – the results are visually stimulating, and worthy of being called art.

Bailey has this talent – he can see something – it could be anything. A corner of a room full of insignificant junk to you and I. But to David, with the right lighting, and from behind his camera, he captures a photo worth hanging at the NPG. He has this eye – it’s a truly remarkable talent.

I found myself staring at a photo of an east-end housewife taken in the 70s. I was momentarily transfixed – not because she was conventionally beautiful. But because I was drawn in, just how Bailey wanted me to be. It’s hard to describe, but these still portraits have so much movement and life in them.

Look out for his self-portraits. Bailey shows off the fact he had friendships with art giants such as Damien Hirst and Andy Warhol. I found these images stunning, seeing David exposed in front of the camera.

The whole exhibition is fabulous – a unique insight into Bailey’s world.

From 6th February – 1st June 2014