Caroline Flack among celebrities featured in mental health photography project
Photographs of Caroline Flack will be included in a mental health project featuring dozens of celebrities spanning 10 years.
The project is a series of photographs of celebrities taken by Ray Burmiston and is presented by Art of London.
Flack’s close friend and Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore was also photographed for the exhibition, which has pictures of dozens of celebrities with their eyes closed to remind people to take a moment to look after their mental health.
Flack died in February 2020 at the age of 40.
Famous faces also featured in the exhibition include presenter Amanda Holden, model Kate Moss, actor Helena Bonham Carter, comedian David Walliams and actor Olivia Colman.
Ex-Love Island contestant Dr Alex George also took part in the project and has done a lot of work to raise awareness around mental health after losing his younger brother.
Llyr was only 19 years old when he took his own life in July 2020 and Dr Alex has paid tribute to his brother many times on social media and discussed his own mental health struggles openly.
Dr Alex said: “I’m thrilled to feature in Art of London and Ray Burmiston’s stunning photography exhibition, which bravely addresses the importance of looking after our mental health.
“I’m proud to be one of hundreds of celebrities captured by Ray, who closed their eyes on camera in a moment of personal reflection.
“This is such an important initiative and I hope Ray’s photography encourages everyone to take a moment to think about their mental health.”
Art of London Presents: Take A Moment 2022 is free to the public and will run throughout March until early April digitally on the Piccadilly Lights in London and in a physical gallery directly underneath.
Landsec, which owns the Piccadilly Lights, is donating the screen time in support of the campaign and the event space is being supported by Westminster City Council.
Project creator Burmiston said: “The exhibition has been created from a decade of outtakes from the studio where I asked my subjects to close their eyes for a few seconds, to refresh their connection with the camera.
“The portraits capture a variety of different responses from powerful moments of self-reflection to something more whimsical and playful, allowing us to see these well-known faces in a different light.
“I have been overwhelmed by the public response and I hope the new exhibition will continue to highlight the importance of mental health awareness.”
The full list of stars is due to be released soon but further names already announced include This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby, boxer Anthony Joshua, comedian and presenter James Corden, fitness instructor Joe Wicks, musician Gary Barlow and Olympian Adam Peaty.
West End performers were also photographed by Burmiston for this exhibition, at locations including The Wolseley, Burlington Arcade, Magic Mike Live at The Hippodrome and The Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square.
Businesses in the West End district, including the Burlington Arcade and Waterstones, also plan to feature photography from the exhibition to support the mental health campaign.
The exhibition will culminate in early April with a ten-minute video featuring hundreds of celebrity and public portraits, curated by Burmiston.
Copyright (c) PA Media Ltd. 2022, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Ray Burmiston / Art of London / PA.
