From Old Masters’ self-portraits to contemporary selfies taken on phones, a London exhibition explores the creative potential of a mode of expression whose modern form is often derided as inane.
The British capital’s Saatchi Gallery on Friday launches “From Selfie to Self-Expression”, which it says will be the world’s first exhibition looking at the history of selfies, reports Reuters.
It kicks off with Rembrandt, the 17th century Dutch artist whose dozens of self-portraits created an intimate autobiography with confident brushstrokes. His paintings are represented on digital screens that one can “like”, resulting in a red heart appearing over the image – just as on social media.
Modern-day selfies are different because they show “how we would like the world to see us, rather than how we are and who we are,” said Saatchi Gallery Chief Executive Nigel Hurst.
