The Bite Magazine - Spring 2016 - Issue 15

which include People in Vogue:A Century of Portraits in 2003 and Vogue Model in 2010. Patrick Kinmonth who is known for his opera and theatre set designs, partici- pated as the show’s Exhibition Designer and Artistic Director. His creativity can be seen in the set-up and display of the exhibition as it seeks to take the visitors on an immersive and imaginative tour through the many photos of the great- est moments in British Vogue ’s history. Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Dr Nicholas Cullinan, said, “ British Vogue has played a pivotal role in the develop- ment of photographic portraiture over the past century, commissioning leading photographers and designers to produce some of the most memo- rable and influential images in the history of fashion. We are extremely grate- ful to Alexandra Shulman and her team for giving us unprecedented access to the treasures of the Condé Nast archive and for allowing us to present a panoramic view of this hugely important British institution on a scale that has never been seen before.” Following this, Shulman, who happens to the bril- liant editor-in-chief of British Vogue , stated, “ Vogue 100: A Century of Style is a landmark exhibition in the history of magazine pho- tography. I am incredibly proud of this collection of exceptional photography and of the whole concept of the exhibition, which shows the breadth and depth of the work commissioned by the magazine as well as Vogue 's involvement in the crea- tion of that work. The National Portrait Gallery is a wonderful place for this show, which mixes portraiture and con- temporaneous artistic style in the same way as much of the Gallery's own collec- tion.  Anybody interested in photography, fashion, fame and magazines will find this an unmissable experience.” This celebratory show definitely dis- plays the history of British Vogue in all its grandeur. Established in 1916, the First WorldWar made transatlantic shipments of American Vogue impossible interna- tionally, so the proprietor Condé Nast authorised a British edition. And thank goodness, they did! Over the following ten decades, British Vogue has sustained uninterrupted publications, allowing it to continue to reflect its eras and put fashion in the context of the world over. “The austerity and optimism that followed the two World Wars, the ‘Swinging ‘60s’ scene in London, the radical ‘70s and the image-conscious ‘80s. In the magazine’s 2nd century, it remains at the cutting edge of photography and design,” stated the National Portrait Gallery. In a way, the vast history made the entire show feel, at times, eerie. I walked the gallery totally transfixed by the images that hung on the walls, several of which were foreign to me, their faces staring out at the engrossed viewers Kirsi Pyrhönen in Mongolia by Tim Walker, 2011 ©TimWalker biteexhibition