Marc Lagrange @ HEIST

Guests enjoyed sumptuous food and drink, all the while surrounded by the evocative imagery of Lagrange’s striking photographs. The photographer, Marc Lagrange, was in attendance, as was HEIST’s Gallery Director, Tyrone Wood. The evening was enjoyed by an array of guests including former Rolling Stone guitarist, Ronnie Wood and the Felder twins.

While inviting former tabloid ligger Ronnie Wood to an opening isn't likely to impress me (I think he's least cool Stone, isn't he?) and I had to look up the Felder Twins (fashion designers), I feel that I need to have an opinion on HEIST. It calls itself an anti-gallery, which I rather like. 

Then I had a look at Lagrange's photographs. It posed many questions: 'what century are we are in?' and 'will I get into trouble for looking at these on a work computer?'
The new exhibition from HEIST is part of their vision to establish the anti-gallery as the premier space for fine-art photography in London. HEIST Gallery Director, Tyrone Wood is pivotal in the development of this vision and has curated shows for Bruce French, Marcus James and Sophie Delaporte at galleries and fairs around the globe.

Located in a residential property in the heart of Notting Hill, the HEIST space is an immersive experiential location that entices an audience to engage with every piece. The space is curated to reflect and complement each individual exhibition.

This feels like an extension of the DIY ethos that drove the Glasgow Miracle (TM). But it is in Notting Hill and, by the look of the pictures, it is not about carving an alternative space in a post-industrial city. 
Marc Lagrange has a reputation as one of the most talented photographers in the industry and is renowned for his distinctive approach to fine art photography. He is famous for shooting with large Polaroids, using their texture to create an iconic and cinematic feel to his work. His exhibition is now open by appointment only until 30 October 2010.

Polaroids - like what people used to take naughty snap-shots before digital photography. See, I'm getting a bit of gender-guilt about Lagrange. The 'embodiment of the empowered female' appears to translate as 'a willingness to be photographed in the scud, and a good pair of knockers.' 

TRADITIONALLY THE DEPICTION OF WOMEN AS NUDES IN ART HAD AN AIR OF OBJECTIFICATION. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MARC LAGRANGE'S WORK IS THAT, ALTHOUGH HE CAPTURES NUDES, HIS WOMEN ARE EMPOWERING. SEEMINGLY CAPTURED AT A DIFFERENT PERIOD IN HISTORY, HIS IMAGES ARE NONETHELESS VERY TURN OF THE CENTURY IN THEIR DEPICTION OF WOMEN. THESE ARE WOMAN WHO ARE STRONG, CONFIDENT, EMPOWERED AND WHO CELEBRATE BEING FEMALE. THEY ARE THE WOMAN OF OUR GENERATION.

– TYRONE WOOD – GALLERY DIRECTOR

This one is called the princess and the pea (although Leda and the Swan would have worked as well).

I am being a boring male feminist by suggesting that 'the air of objectification' is not entirely absent here? Am I having my cake and eating it by writing about it? 

Is this the photographic equivalent of Jack Vettriano? To be honest, I was surprised that this kind of work existed anymore.