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Savoy | The Restoration - Photography Exhibition
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- 06/06/2012
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- By Erin @ WPO
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- 1 comment
Savoy | The Restoration - Photography Exhibition
Stunning images capture the restoration of a British icon
Thursday 14th June - Savoy: The Restoration, an exhibition of photographs by Siobhan Doran opens at 81 Leonard Street, London EC2. The show gives an unique, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the £220 million, 3 year restoration of The Savoy, one of the world’s most iconic hotels. Granted exclusive access to the property while it was closed, Siobhan’s work shows the beauty of The Savoy even without the gilt and glamour for which it became famous.
For 3 years, Siobhan visited The Savoy regularly after it closed its doors in December 2007. Her photographs provide a fascinating record as the building, which was originally opened in 1889, was stripped down to its bare bones and painstakingly rebuilt and restored. Photographs capture moments when original details were exposed through to the finishing touches of decoration being applied by some of the 1000 craftsmen, artisans and builders who worked on the project.
Siobhan was particularly captivated by the hotel’s fifth-floor Riverview Suites with their panoramic views across the Thames. These suites were joined together to create a new Royal Suite, which takes up almost the entire front of the building and is now one of London’s most spectacular places to stay. Revisiting these rooms many times in more than 100 visits to the hotel, she developed the concept of returning and remaking images, both here and in other areas of the building.
One of Siobhan’s photographs from the series has just been selected by The Royal Academy for their Summer Show 2012. The photograph Savoy external lettering in Savoy grill, The Savoy, June 2009 is hanging in the Harry & Carol Djanogly Gallery which is curated this year by Peter French RA and Chris Orr RA. Siobhan attended The Royal Academy Vanishing Day yesterday May 28th for the first day of previews before the official opening on June 4th.
A clothbound hardback book of Siobhan’s photographs, titled Savoy:The Restoration, has been published by Dewi Lewis Publishing. Signed copies of the book will be available from 81 Leonard Street during the exhibition and copies can also be purchased from www.shopatthesavoy.com (priced £42 not inc P+P).
The exhibition of Savoy:The Restoration opens on Thursday June 14th and runs until Wednesday June 20th at 81 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4QS (nearest tube Old street and Liverpool street). The gallery will be open every day from 10am until 6pm and admission is free.
For further information on the exhibition, please contact Bryony Fraser at alacartearts@gmail.com
Comments
RobertPattinson 27/06/2012 11:28