‘Art of London Presents Take A Moment 2023’ has returned bigger than ever, announcing a series of photography exhibitions across the West End set to feature hundreds of famous faces with their eyes closed for mental health awareness.
Inspiring London’s West End to take a moment for their mental health, and in a spectacular new turn for 2023, members of the public can send a selfie for the chance to be part of the art alongside their favourite stars on the Piccadilly Lights and in the National Portrait Gallery.
Captured by Take A Moment’s Ray Burmiston, the breathtaking photographs include new portraits of A-listers including Brian Cox, Fatboy Slim, Louis Theroux, Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen, Hannah Waddingham, Ellie Simmonds, Warwick Davis, Ashley Banjo, Noel Fielding, Olly Murs, Ruth Wilson, Aisling Bea, Eddie Izzard, Yungblud, Damien Lewis, Emily Atack, Milly Alcock, Peter and Junior Andre, and Oti Mabuse.
Art of London Presents Take A Moment 2023 was officially opened on the Piccadilly Lights by Ray Burmiston, including a tribute to Caroline Flack from Olly Murs. Piccadilly Lights, Europe’s largest digital billboard, exclusively exhibited a photograph of the singer closing his eyes with thousands of fans at Flackstock, the legacy festival set-up in Caroline Flack’s memory.
Famous
West End visitors will regularly discover new famous faces on the Piccadilly Lights, and on display at the National Portrait Gallery from mid-September to mid-October. The gallery’s display, which will feature portraits of the public, culminates after World Mental Health Day (10 October) and thousands who shared their support for mental health awareness will be screened on the Piccadilly Lights in a poignant finale.
UK favourites from last year featured again include Stephen Fry, Mel B, Kylie Minogue, Idris Elba, Ricky Gervais, Anthony Joshua, Helena Bonham Carter, Grayson Perry and James Corden. Alongside the 300 portraits of national treasures and West End stars, which includes new pictures of Joe Wicks and Alesha Dixon, members of the public will findportraits of key workers and a cancer patient who lost her battle with the disease a few days after her picture was taken.
Stephen Fry, actor and supporter of Take A Moment, said: “It’s so important for our mental health to take a moment and this campaign serves as a powerful reminder to find the time to breathe, reconnect and regain a sense of clarity. Everyone should pause and take a step back from time to time – it’s something we can all do no matter who or where we are. I’m delighted to have been part of the genesis of the project and to have seen it evolve into something much bigger, offering space to people to reconnect, even in the heart of London and the busy West End, where members of the public can join hundreds of famous faces raising awareness for mental health. It’s one of life’s most pleasant contradictions – when we close our eyes we can see so much more.”
Olly Murs, singer and supporter of Take A Moment, said: “This photo was taken on stage at Flackstock, after I asked the crowd to all close their eyes and take a moment, something most of us don’t do enough. It’s a powerful image that hopefully will remind people to check in on themselves more often. I couldn’t think of a more fitting place to capture this special moment with a very important message.”
Christine Flack, mother of Caroline Flack, said: “Take A Moment is a small phrase with such an enormous message. I miss Caroline so much everyday. There are times when I take a moment just to remember how wonderful it was to have had her as a daughter. Her portrait is a lasting memory of her, how happy she was then, And just how beautiful she was. I am forever grateful.”
Lara Journo-Leggatt, Director of Take A Moment CIC, said: “Take A Moment is about simply taking a few seconds every day for our mental health… to pause, breathe, disconnect and then reconnect, so we can find clarity. A simple action that can make a life changing difference in our fast-paced world. Our partnership with Art of London is part of our global ambition to hold hands across the internet and exhibit with the world’s most famous art spaces.”
Mark Williams, Director of Art of London, said: “We’re delighted to bring back this important mental health campaign and, at the same time, enhance the amount of art in the West End. I hope Art of London Presents Take A Moment 2023 inspires West End visitors to pause and close their eyes in some of the city’s most iconic locations, as shown by Ray Burmiston’s stunning portfolio of star-studded portraits.”
Professor Tim Kendall, NHS National Clinical Director for Mental Health for England, said: “At a time when the world is moving ever faster, with many of us working harder, trying to deliver tomorrow yesterday, the Take A Moment initiative reminds us to slow down, to step back, to stay still and just be. A simple action that can make such a difference to our collective emotional and mental wellbeing. And to people worried about their mental health, I want to say: help is available, you can start by checking the Every Mind Matters platform for advice and support, including from your local NHS services.”
Ros Lawler, COO at National Portrait Gallery, said: “The National Portrait Gallery celebrates the power of portraiture to create person-to-person connections, a mission that feels all the more important in the lead up to World Mental Health Day. We hope that people use our spaces and visit our galleries to take time to reflect – including the Spotlight Space where Ray Burmiston’s striking portraits will be shown as part of Art of London Presents Take A Moment 2023.”
Art of London Presents Take A Moment 2023 includes portraits of the casts in the West End’s most iconic productions, including MAMMA MIA! (Meg Hateley, Natasha Heyward, Olivia Lallo; Novello Theatre), Choir of Man (Adam Bayjou, Mike Hamway, Tom Miles, Ben Goffe; Arts Theatre), SIX the Musical (Danielle Rose; Vaudeville Theatre), Grease The Musical (Darren Bennett, Rachel Stanley, Charlie Revell; Dominion Theatre), and Back To The Future: The Musical (Ben Joyce, Sophie Naglik and Stuart Sneade; Adelphi Theatre).
Art of London Presents Take A Moment 2023 is one of several planned activations for cultural initiative Art of London’s Summer Season, which aims to celebrate art in all its forms across the creative West End district. Landsec, which owns the Piccadilly Lights, is donating the screen time in support of the campaign.
Culture seekers can discover a raft of spectacular arts destinations, perfect for a moment of reflection, to visit using Art of London’s handy online guides, filled with world-class art galleries, theatres, museums, institutions and pop-ups to explore in the West End, including from Art of London partner Fujifilm UK.
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