A new exhibition from photographer
Rankin, Back in the Dazed highlights one
photographer and one magazine, across one
memorable decade.
From cult celebrities, to musical icons
and the world’s top Supermodels, Rankin
was at the forefront of Cool Britannia
and the 90’s style which is still popular
today.
Co-founder and Dazed & Confused’s first
Photographic Editor, Rankin’s visual
style helped launch the magazine and
defined the aesthetics of multiple
generations of British youth.
Across 10 years Rankin photographed over
200 iconic editorial shoots for the
magazine, and his work from this period
forms a manifesto about how to view the
world, a political statement communicated
not with words but with a camera lens.
Unafraid of mainstream pressures, with
Dazed, Rankin spearheaded LGBTQIA+
representation, took his camera to the
street to photograph working-class kids,
became “the” photographer for Brit-pop
bands, and created defining images of
emerging cult actors.
Not an artist of rarefied tastes, Rankin
handed notions of “high-culture” to
everyday people. With Dazed, he gave
ordinary teenagers their voice and
allowed them access to, and opinions
on, everything from contemporary art to
experimental music.
Back in the Dazed is the first
retrospective in the UK of Rankin’s
ground breaking works over this prescient
decade. More vital than ever, through
Rankin’s eye you’re invited to explore
the culture and creative community that
was celebrated world-over.
Back in the Dazed is a love letter to
youthful creativity, all as captured by
one legendary photographer and published
by one seminal magazine.
Stranded, Diesel Style Lab S_S, Dazed & Confused, Issue 52, 1999 © Rankin
U2, Twisting My Lemon Man, Dazed & Confused, Issue 30, 1997 © Rankin
Rankin, a British photographer, publisher
& film director. His iconic photography
has captured everyone from The Rolling
Stones to The Queen.
Always pursuing projects that push
his limits, Rankin has stood out for
his creative fearlessness. His work
characteristically probes and questions
social norms and ideas of beauty.
Personal or commercial, his images have
become part of contemporary iconography,
evidence of his frankness and zeal for
all aspects of modern culture.
Rankin co-founded Dazed & Confused with
Jefferson Hack in 1992, and has since
published AnOther and AnOther Man, in
2011 launching the magazine and digital
platform, Hunger.
His work has appeared in over 40
monograph publications and has been
exhibited internationally, including at
The National Portrait Gallery, London,
V&A, London, and at MoMA, New York.
Rankin is known for his public
appearances, talks and TV work, including
in 2021 hosting “The Great British
Photography Challenge” for the BBC.
He has also produced and presented
documentaries, primarily with the BBC,
such as “The Seven Photographs that
Changed Fashion”, “No Body’s Perfect”,
and “Alive: In the Face of Death”, an
in-depth documentary into the modern
approach to death.
He is based in London.
www.rankinphoto.co.uk
@rankinarchive
All about Rankin
Kate Moss- What’s the First Word That Comes Into Your Head? Dazed & Confused, Issue 43 1998 © Rankin
Charlie Watts, Give The Drummer Some, Dazed & Confused, Issue 70, 2000 © Rankin
Dazed is an independent British
fashion, culture and arts magazine
with a reputation for groundbreaking
photography, fashion and editorial.
It was founded by Jefferson Hack and
photographer Rankin as Dazed & Confused
in 1991.
'
Contributors include photographers
Harley Weir, Rafael Pavarotti, Ryan
McGinley, Walter Pfeiffer, Hugo Comte,
Collier Schorr and Willy Vanderperre.
Cover stars have included Harry Styles,
Jungkook, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Stormzy,
Billie Elish, Lil Nas X, Selena Gomez,
Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey, Rihanna, Nicki
Minaj, Bjork and Pamela Anderson. Ib
Kamara is the Editor-in-Chief; Gareth
Wrighton, Art Director; Imruh Asha,
Fashion Director; and Kacion Mayers,
Editorial Director.
Dazed is part of Dazed Media, whose
portfolio includes some of the world’s
most influential arts, culture and fashion
titles including AnOther, Another Man,
Dazed Korea, Dazed Beauty, Nowness and
Dazed Studio, the company’s in-house
creative agency. In 2021, Dazed Media
launched Dazed Club and App, a membership
platform that connects you to a community
of like-minded creatives via exclusive
events, opportunities and competitions.
Dazed Media is headquartered in London
for EMEA and New York for North America.
dazeddigital.com
Helen Mirren, Mirren Mirren On The Wall, Dazed & Confused, Issue 46,1998 © Rankin
