Rankin shines a light on celebrity names in new exhibition to raise
funds for vital arts restoration
22nd November 2016
Internationally-renowned fashion and portrait photographer, Rankin, has teamed up with leading UK
names from culture and the arts in a new exhibition of portraits, ​Light
​ up the Room, for London’s
Southbank Centre.
Rankin’s portraits showcase famous faces wearing jewellery by high-profile British designers which is on
sale to raise funds for the restoration of Southbank Centre’s unique brutalist arts venues: Hayward
Gallery and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
For​ high res and low res images please contact [email protected]
Joanna Lumley, Grayson Perry, Marc Almond, Paris Lees, DJ Nihal Arthanayake, Gemma Cairney,
Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kathy Lette, Philippa Perry, Grace Victory, and the Fabulous Fashionistas are
photographed in portraits celebrating culture and design, influenced by the interplay of light on, and
within, the Southbank Centre’s historic buildings.
Prominent UK jewellery designers including Tatty Devine and Wolf & Moon, and up-and-coming makers
including Maria Allen and Materia Rica have created the new range to support Southbank Centre’s ​Let
the Light In campaign. The affordable pieces are available to buy online at ​http://bit.ly/LTLIGifts
Rankin’s ​Light up the Room exhibition will take place ​in the Exhibition Space at the Southbank Centre’s
Royal Festival Hall (Level 4 Blue Side) from 8 to 23 December​, ​curated by Hayward Gallery Assistant
Curator, ​Gilly Fox.
Rankin, portrait and fashion photographer, says:​ “​I’ve always thought of the iconic Southbank
Centre as London’s bright, Brutalist, beating cultural heart. Royal Festival Hall was where I first saw my
photography exhibited, in a competition back in 1989, and it, along with the Queen Elizabeth Hall and
Hayward Gallery, have always been very important to me.
I loved the idea of celebrating their influence on our culture with people who have a love for, and
connection with Southbank Centre and this amazing jewellery inspired by the buildings themselves. The
shoot was a lot of fun and I hope this comes through in the portraits. I like to think they reflect the spirit of
Southbank Centre itself - fun, passionate and creative.”
Gemma Cairney, presenter, says “​ Southbank Centre remains a magical place and provides a needed
'cultural root' in this ever bottle-necking city, a city that can often feel it’s more about money rather than
its fantastical people. A city that can often feel it's more about corporations over any arts whatsoever. I
love it here.”
Joanna Lumley, ​actress and activist, says​ ​“This project drew me like a magnet. First, the
photographer Rankin is outstanding by any measure, and I love working with him. Second, the jewellery
aspect, as I am like a magpie with gorgeous things and the necklace I wear is adorable. Third, my
respect and affection for Southbank Centre knows no bounds. I was a Governor of Southbank Centre
Bank for a few years, and grew to value every single public space and venue it contains. Queen
Elizabeth Hall and Hayward Gallery have long cried out for our care and attention, and this is our chance
to show how central to the lives of all of Londoners and visitors are the great stars of Music and Art.”
Grace Victory, blogger and YouTuber, says “​ It is important we help protect and restore London's
architecture so that future generations can enjoy it. I am honoured to be part of this project.”
Marc Almond,
​
musician, says​ “I’m thrilled to be involved in this project, ​Let The Light In, to refurbish
Queen Elizabeth Hall and Hayward Gallery. It was wonderful to do the photo session with Rankin, and
the ring I wore was inspired by the Hayward. It’s been a great thing to be a part of as I’ve performed at
Southbank Centre many times.”
Jude Kelly CBE, Artistic Director at Southbank Centre, said:​ “We care deeply about preserving the
beauty and architectural brio of our 1960s buildings. We wanted to create something truly special to
celebrate them and Rankin, as one of our most important and compelling cultural photographers, is the
perfect artist to help us realise this vision. His series of portraits will help us let the light back in to our
unique buildings and see them live on for many future generations to come."
For pictures and prices of the jewellery designs click here.
See behind the scenes footage of Rankin’s shoot and watch Joanna Lumley explain why she got
involved here.
# ENDS #
For further press information and images please contact:
Lucia Denniss, ​[email protected]​, 020 7921 0752
Isabella Sharp​ ​[email protected]​, 020 7921 0967
Beverley Luckings, ​[email protected]​, +44 7472916283
NOTES TO EDITORS
#SCLetTheLightIn
Let the Light In exhibition and jewellery collaboration
The exhibition ​Light up the Room: Portraits by Rankin will take place in the Exhibition Space at Royal
Festival Hall (Level 4 Blue Side) from 8th December to 23rd December. As part of the Let the Light In
campaign, Southbank Centre has commissioned a broad range of designers including Tatty Devine and
Wolf & Moon alongside up-and-coming makers such as Maria Allen and Materia Rica to sell in
Southbank Centre shops with the proceeds going towards the Let the Light In campaign. The pieces are
on sale​ ​at shop.southbankcentre.co.uk and at Southbank Centre shops. A special pop-up shop will
accompany Light up the Room: Portraits by Rankin in the Royal Festival Hall Level Four foyers from
8th-23rd December.
Let the Light In
Southbank Centre is carrying out vital refurbishment work on the Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall
and Purcell Room to make the arts venues fit for future generations to enjoy. The project will provide
world-class facilities similar to those installed in the Royal Festival Hall during its recent refurbishment,
replace the iconic 66 Hayward Gallery pyramid roof lights to let natural light into the upper galleries, and
carefully restore the original 1960s architecture. The £25 million refurbishment project has been funded
by Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and through the generous support of Southbank Centre
friends. Southbank Centre’s Let The Light In campaign has already raised £2.8 million of its £3.9 million
target, so the buildings can be transformed ready for the reopening in 2018. Further information can be
found here: southbankcentre.co.uk/letthelightin
Southbank Centre​ is the UK’s largest arts centre, occupying a 21-acre site that sits in the midst of
London’s most vibrant cultural quarter on the South Bank of the Thames. The site has an extraordinary
creative and architectural history stretching back to the 1951 Festival of Britain. Southbank Centre is
home to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and the Hayward Gallery as well
as The Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection. For further information please visit
www.southbankcentre.co.uk​.
Hayward Galler​y ​has a long history of presenting work by the world's most adventurous and innovative
artists. Opened by Her Majesty, The Queen in 1968, the gallery is one of the few remaining buildings of
its style. It was designed by a group of young architects, including Dennis Crompton, Warren Chalk and
Ron Herron. Hayward Gallery is named after the late Sir Isaac Hayward, the former leader of the London
County Council. Hayward Gallery has gained an international reputation for staging major solo shows by
both emerging and established artists and dynamic group exhibitions in its 46 year history. Key
exhibitions throughout Hayward Gallery’s history have included early shows by Henri Matisse, Anthony
Caro and Bridget Riley, as well as more recent monographic exhibitions featuring Martin Creed, Jeremy
Deller, Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor, and David Shrigley, and influential group
exhibitions such as Psycho Buildings, Walking in My Mind, and Light Show. ​The Infinite Mix is Hayward
Gallery's major exhibition whilst the gallery is closed for a two ​year refurbishment project.