blue bird

” I don’t want to sound mystical but sometimes when you take a picture something takes over and leads you”
- Tim Walker
Mystical images, indeed what can you say about Tim Walker’s exhibition ’Story teller’ at the Somerset House,
London. Leaving an incredible eye-opener for the fairytale wonderland.
Walker, the story teller, these exact words. One of fashion’s most leading photographer, started off his career
only at the age of 25 in Vogue fashion. He has worked with the most renowned people in the fashion industry
as well as major fashion labels. Tim Walker is probably the most unfashionable fashion-photographer of them
all, yet inspires with fantasy, magic, emotion and art. His photography is one of a kind, original, highly creative
and imaginative. It’s recognizable instantly and that is something that today is rare to find.
The exhibition consists of many narratives and props used from the editorials that are put on display. Placing
these in different rooms creates a cohesive story. Leading us through these spaces, quotes by Walker himself
are placed dancing around the walls explaining his romantic notions of imagination and photography:
“Sometimes when you’re taking a picture an extraordinary sense of luck and chance takes over and propels you
to make pictures that you couldn’t in your wildest dreams have imagined. This is the magic of photography.”
Entering the unexpected door leading to the first room, the resemblance of Willy Wonka was brought to the
attention. Inside, a life-sized Spitfire painted in baby blue color - a prop from a 2009 British Vogue shoot
starring Lily Donaldson - has artfully ‘crashed’ through the fireplace. In addition of mixing the surreal tapestry
of a blue sky falling apart contrasting with the walls of the setting - this was a divine tone for the rest that is
yet to come. The beautiful romantic white swan, the giant bumblebee playing the cello, the huge skeleton and
the 15ft tall child’s doll that once chased Lindsey Wixson through the woods for Vogue Italia. But despite these
extravagant center pieces in every room which create their own stories of this theatrical staged exhibit; all eyes
are primarily focused on the photographs that in fact brought them to life. A decoration on white walls blended
by fashion editorials mainly from Vogue magazines, portraits of; Vivianne Westwood, Helena Bonham Carter and
Alexander Mcqueen and additional personal work.
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