Julian Lennon’s “Whispers”
Le Stanze della Fotografia—an international center for research and the appreciation of photography and the culture of the image, joint initiative by Marsilio Arte and Fondazione Giorgio Cini—is pleased to announce a landmark exhibition by acclaimed artist Julian Lennon, titled Whispers—A Julian Lennon Retrospective. The exhibition, curated by Julian Lennon and Sandrina Bonetti Rubelli, showcases a rich body of work that spans Lennon’s diverse artistic journey, from his early days in music to his extensive portfolio in photography. Through this retrospective, visitors will experience the evolution of Lennon’s artistic voice, steeped in humanitarianism and inspired by his philanthropic endeavors for his nonprofit, The White Feather Foundation.
“When you think of Venice, you think of Beauty, Art and Culture,” says Lennon. “To be able to showcase my Photography work in a place as prestigious as Le Stanze della Fotografia—International Center for Photography—alongside a Helmut Newton Retrospective, during the Art Biennale, the Film Festival, and the Homo Faber Journey into human life through Craft, equals embracing a unique Life Experience, and is something very, very special. This Retrospective is not just about Photography, it’s about embracing the subtle yet powerful moments that remind us of our privilege to preserve and cherish our Life on this Planet.”
Interiors interviewed Lennon on the Whispers retrospective; to follow is our exclusive conversation and select images from the retrospective.
Could you tell us a bit about your curation process for this retrospective exhibition with Sandrina Bonetti Rubelli?
Well, after having just finished working incredibly long hours, days and weeks on putting my first-ever photography coffee table book together, which was also a retrospective of my work, I decided that the easiest and likely the best way to approach this exhibition was with using the book as my base starting point. As I’d already edited thousands of pictures for the book, I approached it similarly to the book, with visual breaks for each section of the spaces. Defining each section/room, with a concept, of sorts… The White Feather Foundation’s travel and images, clouds, portraits and travel walls, sepia sections, and other subtle moments, that have an emotional response with me… Sandrina, although part of this process, to a degree, was more about the administrative elements.
What is the significance of the title of the retrospective, “Whispers?”
This was actually Sandrina’s title, which I loved, as my photography book also has, shall we say, a delicate title, Life’s Fragile Moments—both depicting messages of hope, truth and life.
How many years of your work does this exhibition span? What is the earliest piece?
From the very beginning until now, and probably Timeless.
What is unique about how the work is curated in this exhibition?
The fact that it’s my first retrospective…images picked and sized especially for this space.
Your take on Andy Goldsworthy’s Oak Room is especially intriguing, as it’s art seen through another artist’s lens. Tell us about your experience photographing this space.
I was asked by Bono and his wife, Ali, to go to Chateau La Coste to take pictures of the art installations there, for a box set for the owner, Paddy McKillan’s 50th birthday. The Oak Room was the only “Underground” artspace, as such, and it was a very hot Summer’s day…
The light poured down the stairwell, and it just said “Stairway to Heaven” to me, though the upside down nest was an incredible feat, the light bleeding into that space was what made it so interesting. I chose to let the light “blind” me/the viewer, to express what I was feeling in that moment.
Could you tell us more about the people and places in the following photographs: Down to the Wire, Kogi Tribe, Wheels of Fortune and Woman?
In brief, they were just moments, with incredible, long suffering, Indigenous people, who were kind enough to allow me to snap a glance at their souls…
How did you come to select the images of Sting and Bono? Also, please tell more about capturing Someone To Look Up To, with Bono before the Astrid Kirchherr image of your father in 1960 in Hamburg with Stuart Sutcliffe. I understand it was taken at your house in France while they were recording. Please tell us how you got the shot.
Sting and Bono are just some of the many artists I’ve been fortunate enough to take pictures of, and they, like many others, are grouped in the same “portrait” room. U2 were writing and recording in a Summer house I had, and Bono was just contemplating the day’s work, and looking out of the window. I just happened to be lying on the floor, talking about life, when I looked up and realized what a magical picture that could be. Initially called Lennon Sandwich, as Bono was indeed placed between two Lennons, but then thought better, that as Bono and Dad had inspired me, so had Dad inspired Bono… It just made sense to call it Someone To Look Up To.
Where were Ash Cloud, Blaze, Midnight Smoke and Timeless photographed?
I don’t always recall where I take Cloud images, but to the best of my recollection, over the mountains of Provence and the South of France. Timeless was taken on the road, a tour bus, with my brother, Sean, on his European Tour, in 2007.
This exhibition is exciting in its diversity of subject matter, from people to nature to buildings to artworks and the avant garde. What do you hope people will see in and glean from this diverse group of subjects?
That life is not just one story, but many, as art is too… Photography is just one way of expressing that.
What story does this retrospective say about how you see the world through your lens?
You tell me…
Tickets for Whispers—A Julian Lennon Retrospective are available for purchase on the Le Stanze della Fotografia website and at the venue. The same tickets also give access to the retrospective Helmut Newton. Legacy, one of the most complete exhibitions devoted to the photographer, and displayed at Le Stanze until November 24, 2024. For more information, including opening hours and special events, please visit StanzedellaFotografia.it/en.
