A new exhibition has opened at The Wapping Project in London exploring the work of fashion photographer Guy Bourdin. The ‘Unseen Guy Bourdin’ is a collection of 32 photographs, including fashion editorials, adverts and private commissions.

Bourdin, famous for his controversial images, which played on notions of sexuality and surrealism, was also famous for how he treated his models. Many complained of his ‘difficult’ behaviour, but the model dubbed his muse, Nicolle Meyer, set the record straight in ‘The Telegraph’ earlier this week, saying ‘Even though I was only seventeen when I started working for him...I intuitively understood what his demands were and trusted him implicitly.’

This clear line of communication between photographer and model, essential in creating any successful photograph, is best seen in the campaigns Bourdin did for footwear designer Charles Jourdan during 1977-1980.

These colourful, punchy images still read as contemporary, even though they are thirty years old. Fashion photography owes a great debt to Bourdin, who purposely blurred the lines between fine art and high fashion to create images that said something more. 

‘Unseen Guy Bourdin’ is at The Wapping Project from 9^th May to 4^th July 2009

London E1 (020) 7680 2080

Sources: www.handbag.com / www.telegraph.co.uk