Above: Bobby Gillespie, Hide & Seek, Dazed & Confused, Issue 37, 1997 (c) Rankin
A new exhibition from acclaimed photographer Rankin, Back in the Dazed, highlights his work and the iconic magazine Dazed & Confused over one memorable decade. The exhibition runs from 29th May to 23rd June 2024 at 180 Studios.
Featuring over 200 editorial shoots, Back in the Dazed showcases Rankin’s influence on 90s culture, from photographing cult celebrities and musical icons to supermodels. Co-founder and first Photographic Editor of Dazed & Confused, his work helped define British youth aesthetics during the Cool Britannia era.
Rankin stated, “Those early years were great for experimentation. For me, just starting out, I was like a blank canvas. Because we were pretty naively fearless, we did things that ended up really changing culture.”
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The exhibition presents Rankin’s pioneering contributions to LGBTQIA+ representation and his ability to bring high culture to everyday people. Curator Ellen Stone noted, “To understand Rankin’s work you need not look any further than the pages of his first magazine… Think of your favourite young actor or pop star from the 1990s – invariably you are remembering a Rankin picture.”
Back in the Dazed is a celebration of youthful creativity, captured by Rankin and immortalised by Dazed & Confused. The exhibition, which originated as The Dazed Decades in collaboration with the municipality of Knokke-Heist, is curated by Ellen Stone and exhibited by 180 Studios.
Rankin’s retrospective is a vital exploration of the culture and creative community that defined a generation. The exhibition is open from Wednesday to Sunday, with specific timings for weekdays and weekends.
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