The Selfies of Saatchi Gallery
The temporary art gallery features a range of pieces centred around the "selfie."
The entrance to Saatchi Gallery is located in the heart of Sloane Square.
In today’s modern society, selfies are becoming an art form of their own.
The word “selfie” is probably even in the dictionary by now, whereas 10 years or so ago, no one would’ve known what that was.
With that said, though, that doesn’t mean the “selfie” didn’t exist.
A modern selfie in one of the exhibits of Saatchi Gallery features celebrities and models like Behati Prinsloo (middle with tongue out) and Jourdan Dunn (far left).
This temporary exhibition focuses on exploring the history of the selfie and celebrating its creative potential.
While Saatchi Gallery has been open for 25 years now, this specific exhibit, known as “From Selfie to Self-Expression,” has been featured since March 31st and will be there until May 28th of this year.
The gallery features more than 10 exhibits showcasing different aspects of the selfie.
A series of self-portraits photographed in the style of old Hollywood films is featured above. The series, by Cindy Sherman, is meant to display the way that Hollywood cinema has contributed to the stereotypes about women.
The first exhibit upon entry features a range of classical painting, such as those by Van Gogh, but mutilated to look as if displayed on Instagram.
It creates a paradox by combining such classic and modern concepts into one art form.
Visitors can even walk by and “like” their favorite ones, just as you would like someone’s photo on Instagram.
Another exhibit features some of the most iconic celebrity selfies in our modern generation, including the Pope and Harry Styles.
They show the modern evolution of the selfie through famous figures of today and date all the way back to the first selfie ever taken.
Some of the most classical pieces of art are shown mimicking today's social media above.
A selection of selfies from famous figures today features Harry Styles, the Pope and Kim Kardashian (from left to right).
The first "selfie" to ever be taken was allegedly by a group of men in 1939.
“From Selfie to Self-Expression” also features an exhibit with interactive art.
Visitors can pass by what looks to be the frame of a painting, but once in front of it, the screen makes whomever it sees appears as a painting. It’ll follow you as you move, creating a cool effect that defies the possibilities of still art.
Right next to that is another interactive piece that casts your shadow as you move by it through video technology. As a blank canvas, it looks like a wall of tan-toned fur, but as soon as a moving person walks in front of it, the technology senses the movement and rotates to black fur where the shadow would be.
An entire room in the gallery has been devoted solely to moving selfies.
As far as modern art goes, some of the content featured in this exhibition is ahead of its time, showcasing all the opportunity within the future of the art world.
Not only is Saatchi Gallery currently featuring an art which some still dare to call it that – the selfie – but they are also giving regular people the opportunity to submit their own work.
One of the exhibits as you walk through features a collection of unique selfies submitted by people from all over the world. This gives a chance for the individuality of today’s creative minds to stand out without necessarily declaring themselves an “artist.”
A visitor observes the work of a young man's progression of selfies with various people and celebrities throughout his years of aging.
The selfie is an art that anyone can take up and master, and Saatchi Gallery has shown that off perfectly.
It is located in Sloane Square off of Kings Road in Chelsea, London.
-C.M.