Mondo Gallery and the
El Hotel Pacha presents for the first time in Spain this exhibition of photographs by
Terry O'Neill, curated by Diego Alonso in which we face the most important icons of the twentieth century photographed at different times of their artistic careers. A century has passed on the faces of the protagonists. Admirable, adorable, endearing and, above all, sincere these 25 portraits invade the exhibition hall of El Hotel Pacha to start the exhibition season that Ibiza Mondo Gallery is presenting throughout the summer.
The career of this British photographer began in the 60s from a stroke of luck. His intention was to travel to the United States to become a musician and ended up doing a photo to the British Foreign Office Secretary asleep at the London airport. A newspaper bought the image and his career took a 180 degree turn. His personal style is defined by two factors, the use of a 35mm camera, much lighter and handier than most equipment of the time, and the time he spent with his portrayers, with whom he spent whole days, becoming their shadow. The result is a natural, direct and informal style that he has maintained throughout his career.
From the Beatles to Kate Moss
O'Neill was also a pioneer in portraying music groups. He was the first to photograph the
Beatles and the
Rolling Stones, and publish that material in the press. The first published image of Liverpool was made by him, in 1963, in the courtyard of the legendary Abbey Road Studios. It was the first time that he portrayed a pop group, and also the first time an image of a pop group was published on the cover of a newspaper. That paper ran out.
Living in the 60s in London allowed him to witness how this city became the world capital of culture and youth fashion. His meetings with the Rolling Stones, with models like
Jean Shrimpton or
Mary Quant, with actors like
Michael Caine and
Julie Christie, his close friendship with
Ringo Starr, are only the beginning of a career full of anecdotes.
He has been able to photograph all supermodels, from Jean Shrimpton to
Naomi Campbell or
Kate Moss. Also great actresses like
Ava Gardner,
Raquel Welch or
Goldie Hawn. Among all female legends he distinguishes
Audrey Hepburn:
"She is the highest star that I have photographed. Perfect and beautiful. It was impossible to take a bad picture of her! There is no new Audrey, nor ever shall be. "
Spontaneity
Witness of unique moments, he portrayed
Marlene Dietrich in his last concert in Europe, and also
Romy Schneider just two months before his death. O'Neill confirms that the best thing happened in his life was to photograph
Frank Sinatra for thirty years. He allowed O'Neill to accompany him everywhere, ignoring his presence:
"This is the best that you can do to a photographer. He could go where he was, when he wanted and take the photos I liked. That spontaneity works wonderfully. "
However, despite all the years they shared, they never became friends. His role was the one of the observer since respect and distance are essential to their work.
Another important character in his career was
Elton John, whom he portrayed over four decades. In fact, the singer's artistic takeoff was thanks to O'Neill. His past as musician photographer and his relationship with the Beatles and the Rolling gave him the fame of discoverer of new talent. He heard the song Take me to the pilot and 11-07-70 and liked his music so much that he wanted to photograph him. Vogue magazine published that image and that is how it all started.
But besides characters from the world of music and models and actresses, much more male legends have passed through O'Neill's Objective:
Steve McQueen,
Al Pacino,
Robert Redford and
Paul Newman among others. He is the only photographer who has photographed all the actors who have played James Bond, among which he highlights
Sean Connery as
"The most masculine man I have portrayed."
According to O'Neill, the three basic rules of a great photographer are
being invisible, have patience and know how to combine the discretion and public relations. This has earned him an undisputed success through his spontaneous and close-up images. Today he exceptionally accepts commissions. Some of his last works are the last official portraits of
Nelson Mandela, made in 2008, or the official photo of the football Brazil 2014, where
Pele appears with the World Cup world.
Terry O'Neill recently was in Madrid presenting
"Breaking Stones. A band on the brink of superstardom" exhibition and book which he signed with Gered Mankowitz and that will be presented at the Cultural Center of Jesus, Ibiza in the month of August 2016.
