The First Minister will officially open a stunning exhibition of photographs of those inspired by Wales or carrying the DNA of Wales at the Wales Millennium Centre this evening (Tuesday 7 September).
And the exhibition promises some surprising portraits as well as some firm favourites.
The subjects have been chosen and photographed by Llanidloes – born celebrity photographer Cambridge Jones. Jones’ portraits are direct, bold and often playful. He says:
‘I shoot celebrities as people rather than people as celebrities. I like my portraits to be honest without any veneer. I want a visual connection between the viewer and the subject, often jumping out of the frame.’
‘I am pleased when they walk out of a session an hour or so later and comment that they don’t feel they have been photographed. It’s almost incidental that the encounter involved a camera.’
But, in this exhibition, Jones wanted more than just two-dimensional images of some of Wales’ greatest stars. During each photo shoot, Jones asked each celebrity who most inspired them. Their answers accompany each of the portraits as a personal soundtrack giving the audience a unique insight into each of the celebrity’s lives. For the actor Michael Sheen, surprisingly, it was the controversial and often stinging critic, Kenneth Tynan that inspired him. Gilbert and Sullivan was the inspiration for Damian Lewis, dashing star of Band of Brothers; and Terry Jones says he was inspired by going to the Esher Embassy and watching Danny Kaye ‘being silly’.
First Minister Carwyn Jones, said:
‘The Welsh Assembly Government is very proud to have supported Cambridge Jones and his exhibition from its inception through to its completion. It is important that Wales recognises and celebrates the amazing talent that our small country produces and we are grateful to all the participants for their help in our continuing efforts to raise the profile of Wales both at home and abroad.’
The Talking Pictures collection includes:
- Former Python Terry Jones
- Actors Damian Lewis and his Welsh wife Helen McCrory;
- Sir Anthony Hopkins
- Jonathan Pryce
- Sian Phillips
- Matthew Rhys
- Ioan Gruffudd
- Michael Sheen
- Portrait artist Alexander Talbot Rice
- Author Jan Morris
- Singers Shirley Bassey, Bonnie Tyler, David Gray and Cerys Matthews;
- Welsh bands Stereophonics, Lost Prophets and Feeder;
- Former WNO conductor Carlo Rizzi;
- Opera Singers Bryn Terfel, Robert Lloyd and Katherine Jenkins;
- Presenter Aled Jones; and
- Fashion designer Emma Griffiths
Talking Pictures will run at Wales Millennium Centre from 7 September to 25 October 2010. The exhibition is free of charge. For further information contact the ticket office on 029 2063 6464.
The exhibition will also visit London, New York and Los Angeles.
