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By: Nadia Saccardo
Date: 14th Mar 07
Medium: Photography
Drink: Anything, as long as you look good holding it
What:
Fashion Face, Fashion Photography by Robyn Beech
Where:
RMIT Gallery, Storey Hall, 334 Swanston St, Melbourne
When:
Runs until April 21
How much:
Free
Contact:
9925 1717
Image by:
Robyn Beech
Related links:
Robyn Beech in Issue Nine of Dumbo feather
In the 1980s Australian Robyn Beech was a portrait photographer in London. From relative obscurity she fell in league with the Westwoods, the Rhodes and the McLaurens in an elite fashion, music and art circle as it was breaking the high end and carving a place in pop-culture history.
This was a time where just one shot on camera made the cut, where Photoshop was obsolete and touch ups were done through the talent of the makeup artists and hair stylists at each shoot.
Beech’s photos are not only amazing for this anti-digital aspect, but the artistry of makeup (1981 Divine), the craft of lighting (1984 Sonia II) and the integration of art, music and fashion (1984 Scarlett Mondrian) within each frame. ‘Groundbreaking’ and ‘iconic’ don’t do this exhibition justice. ‘Damn lucky to have it showing in our city’ pretty much sums it up.