By Isle of Wight Observer
Dimbola Musuem & Galleries has celebrated the opening of two new exhibitions: ‘Lee Miller – Style is Strength’ and ‘Marco Sanges – One Step Closer’.
Both of the exhibitions at the venue in Freshwater Bay are curated by Dimbola president and artist, Julian Bell.
At the opening, Miller’s son, Antony Penrose, and her grand-daughter, Ami Bouhassane, shared fascinating insights into her life and work. Lee was renowned for her iconic fashion photography, avant-garde style and role as a muse to surrealist artists like Man Ray. Living in war-time Britain, Miller focused on documenting women’s experiences and attitudes during World War II.
Despite the difficult circumstances of the time, her photographs reflect her grace, poise, and inner resilience. The powerful images, taken between 1940 and 1944, illustrate how Miller’s commitment to both her art and her principles made her a trailblazer in every sense of the word.
Antony recounted discovering thousands of Miller’s photographs after her death, which led to the creation of the Lee Miller Archives. While Ami talked about when she became involved in the archives 26 years ago, and the immense struggles they faced in getting Miller’s work recognised, they eventually succeeding in having her images displayed worldwide.
Also making its exhibition debut is One Step Closer, by Italian photographer, Marco Sanges, who has worked for Vogue, as well as Dolce and Gabbana. The exhibition features portraits of Elizabeth McGovern, Jeremy Irons, Bob Geldof, Lisa Stansfield, Timothy West and several other high-profile artists and actors. One Step Closer champions the charity Under One Sky, raising awareness and support for homeless individuals. The work will go to auction later in the year, raising funds for Under One Sky. Both exhibitions run until May 18. Admission rates apply. Visit dimbola.co.uk for more details.
