We are now emerging from a winter of econmic discontent. What better way to celebrate a hopeful spring than the anticipated Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton? As an historical side note there is a remarkable coincidence of timing between royal weddings and the afflictions of economic downturn. Charles and Diana tied the know in the darkest days of the early Reagan/Thatcher era and perhaps her famously ostentatious bridal gown contributed to that decade’s conspicuous consumption. Equally the government of British Prime Minister David Cameron will kick off with a cleverly timed celebrity-royal love match. Hopefully this wedding spark off a sustained period of economic growth just like the 1980’s. That’s the plan anyway, so from everyone–good luck Kate and Wills. Alison Jackson’s photography examines the modern cult of the celebrity by showing them ostensibly caught unawares, revealing what we imagine behind closed doors. The work hovers between parody and realism by seeming to break down the carefully masked private lives of public figures. But of course all the figures in her photographs are dopplegangers. Her eye turns the magical celebrity image around and makes it palpable in its inherent absurdity asking us the question: What can the public know of people whom they do not, in fact, know?

 

Artist biography: Alison Jackson received her MA in Fine Art Photography from The Royal College of Art, London and her BA from Chelsea College of Art, London. Some of her recent solo and group exhibitions include: “The Royal Family”, The Hayward Gallery, London (2011); “Inspired”, CAC Vilinius, Lithuania (2009); 5th Liverpool Biennial, International Festival, Liverpool (2008); F2 Gallery, Beijing (2008); “Confidential”, M+B Gallery, Los Angeles (2007); ICA, London, UK (2007); “Superstars”, Kunstforum, Vienna (2006); Hayward Gallery, London, UK (2004); International Center of Photography, New York, USA (2003); MusŽe de la Photographie a Charleroi, Brussels (2002). Jackson created an award-winning advertising campaign for Schweppes and won a BAFTA for the BBC TV series ‘Double Take’ in 2002. Jackson has published two books; ‘Private’ (Penguin UK, 2003) and ‘Confidential’ (Taschen, 2007), Lectures have included Tate Modern and The National Portrait Gallery in London, UK.