‘PRESENCE’
Rob Munday, creator of the first officially commissioned 3D/ holographic portrait of Her Majesty The Queen in 2004, is unveiling a previously unseen portrait of the monarch this month to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. The new portrait, which shows The Queen off-guard and smiling is named Platinum Queen: Felicity and is dedicated to the 20 years of friendship between The Queen and her personal assistant and close friend Miss Angela Kelly. The relaxed and candid shot was taken during the 2004 holographic photographic session at Buckingham Palace - a seminal artistic event that produced an image ‘Equanimity’, since described as one of the most iconic portraits of The Queen ever taken. Voted visitors’ favourite portrait at the National Portrait Gallery in London, the holographic image was used for the world’s first £100 banknote and also featured on the front cover of Time Magazine’s Diamond Jubilee issue in 2012. Munday describes holography as the ‘perfect blend of science and art.’ ‘The Queen’s daily life is so full of responsibility and duty that it was wonderful to see this fleeting moment of relaxation and pleasure. It is an uplifting portrait, so different from many of the more
sombre portraits commissioned in recent years and a befitting celebration for her Platinum Jubilee’ says Rob Munday. The new portrait remained unnoticed in Munday’s archives for almost 19 years, before he rediscovered it last summer. The composition sees the Queen reacting to an unscripted and amusing comment made by her best friend and dresser Miss Angela Kelly, as Angela rearranged her clothing prior to the holographic shoot. Munday captured this unexpected moment of Her Majesty while making test shots for the hologram at the time, and it is rare that official portraits show The Queen smiling in such a natural and unposed moment of joyfulness. The portrait will be unveiled at 45 Park Lane, originally an Art House in the early 20th Century, housing one of the most important private art collections in the United Kingdom. ‘Presence’ is a solo exhibition of light sculptures by Rob Munday focusing on the themes of entity, reality and the essence of existence. Munday will showcase selected large scale light sculptures from his acclaimed Naturalium series along with brand new works to be unveiled at the exhibition. ‘Equanimity’ will also be on display for the duration of the exhibition.
Rob Munday ‘Presence’ | 4 May - 20 June | 45 Park Lane, London W1K 1PN | All rights reserved - © Rob Munday 2003 - 2022 | rob-munday.com
