The show is the world’s first exhibition exploring the history of the selfie from the old masters to the present day, and celebrates the truly creative potential of a form of expression often derided for its triviality.
From Selfie to Self-Expression showcases key artworks, many of which feature interactive, digital and user-generated content, by artists as diverse as Christopher Baker, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Juno Calypso, Tracey Emin, Van Gogh, Mohau Modisakeng, Rembrandt, Cindy Sherman, Gavin Turk and Velazquez. Showing alongside examples of many influential artists’ work are selfies that have quickly become icons of the digital era – from the beautiful and sublime to the mad, bad and downright dangerous.
The show highlights the emerging role of the smartphone as an artistic medium for self-expression through the commissioning of ten exciting young British photographers to create new works as part of their artistic practice where the focus shifts from Selfie to documenting the world and those around us as a contrasting form of Self-Expression.
From Selfie to Self Expression, Saatchi Gallery, until July 2017.
