Chris Duffy: Last News

The Southbank Centre in London has announced a celebration of the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s ‘Aladdin Sane’ album, with talks, performances and a two month exhibition exploring the record’s iconic artwork.“We’re honoured to pay tribute to David Bowie, who made his Southbank Centre debut in 1969”, says the venue’s Artistic Director Mark Ball. “The ‘Aladdin Sane’ album cover portrait is considered to be one of the most influential pop culture images of the past half century, and the music remains fresh and contemporary, so we wanted to recognise this major anniversary and reflect on the album and its artwork’s enduring legacy”.“It’s a work that continues to inspire today’s contemporary artists and the gender fluidity of the images still resonate deeply in queer culture in the UK and across the world”, he adds.The artwork exhibition will run from 6 Apr to 28 May, and has been curated by Chris Duffy, son of the photographer who took the distinctive lightning flash portrait, Brian Duffy.

Anna Calvi and Jake Shears lead the line-up for the Southbank Centre’s 50th anniversary celebrations of David Bowie‘s ‘Aladdin Sane’.The iconic 1973 album celebrates its big birthday this year, and the London venue will play host to a two-month exhibition and a series of events celebrating 50 years of the LP, which is being reissued in April.From April 6 to May 28, Geoffrey Marsh and Chris Duffy – whose father Brian worked with Bowie on the album’s iconic lightning strike concept for its cover art – will present a line-up of talks, live music and more based around ‘Aladdin Sane’.Discussing the legacy of ‘Aladdin Sane’, Duffy said: “My father’s image of Bowie is often called the Mona Lisa of Pop. It’s important to remember it was the result of a short studio shoot using film, which then had to be sent out for commercial processing.“There were no instant digital images or photoshop then.

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