A Bryan Adams Thing
The cinema doesn’t have much on in English that I am interested in seeing. I am watching an interesting television series that I will give you my conclusion very soon, although it looks very positive. The beautiful Amanda Jeffrey, my friend and colleague, kindly offered me the invitation to see the Bryan Adams exhibition in the Pueblo Español. With that, off I trotted without really knowing what to expect, and I was blown away.
Who in this world can honestly say that they have never fallen in love with Bryan Adams, even if it was just a tiny, tiny bit? His music evokes deep emotions, and his lyrics are profound and meaningful. The repertoire of this renowned artist includes songs such as “I do it for you,“from the film
Robin Hood, and Please Forgive Me, Reckless, Heaven, among others. He is scheduled to perform fifty concerts across seven countries in 2024/5. Look up where he is if you have that Bryan Adams thing.
This accomplished and versatile Canadian musician hails from Britishborn parents who immigrated to Canada. His story is interesting because he is a singer and songwriter who is also an extremely talented artist, but his talent goes beyond music. The love affair with photography began in the 1960s and 1970s, when Bryan was a boy playing with his parents’ Kodak camera. As he grew older, he became interested in trying out different techniques and ways to play around with this art form, to capture the moment.
He has photographed for Harper’s Bazaar and British and German Vogue, as well as British and German Vogue. So, he is right up there with the ‘A list,’ being honoured with a German Lead Award, for his amazing photograph of my very favourite all-time actor, the one and only Mickey Rourke, and I have to see those pictures. He exhibits his artwork in renowned galleries worldwide, including the Saatchi Gallery and National Portrait Gallery in London, the Haus der Kunst in Munich, and Fotografiska in Stockholm.
After seeing his work in the “Sala Magna,” in the Pueblo Español, here in Palma, I was blown away as I said, at his craft, colour and how he catches almost an unawareness, and freshness in all his pictures. There is always something different that you never noticed before and it’s simply awesome. How does he do it? That is something he alone will have to answer. The pictures range from all walks of life. They could be friends, colleagues, family or British or soldiers posted overseas in a war, or back home with the devastating wounds and scars that a war dishes out to those that are there in the front line dealing with hell.
He also did a collection of more than eighty black & white pictures of homeless people, wanting them to be on the map, not off the map. These pictures were taken exactly how these people were, nothing was added to enhance them, it was catching the moment and their story. So, he does not just focus on the rich and famous, there is hope for us all yet!
The Bryan Adams Foundation was set up in 2006, by Bryan Adams shortly after the tsunami struck southern Asia. The Foundation aims to improve the quality of people’s lives around the world by providing financial grants to support specific projects that are committed to bettering the lives of other people.
There is a lot about Bryan Adams that doesn’t hit the headlines, as you can appreciate. He helps others without getting anything in return, unlike some charitable organizations. There is a considerable amount to be said for that aspect of him.
In an interview, Bryan lets us in to some of the moments he had with different celebrities. His portrait of Mick Jagger is striking, and Adams mentioned,
“Mick is the greatest frontman of all time,” that was his comment on his 2008, photo session in New York with the then 69-year-old Rolling Stones singer. “There’s nobody better than Jagger, and he never had a moment of resistance towards being photographed. A lot of people in the music business could learn from him.”
Adams had the privilege of photographing HM The Queen, in 2001, he said “I took the Deardorff along with me thinking it was clever to get a good 10x8 shot. But with only a slot of 6 minutes allowed to get it right, (it takes about 1 minute just to load that camera) I think I got three plates. My best shot came from a Contax camera that I had in my pocket, but the Deardorff did at least get a royal remark, “We haven’t seen one of those for a while” HM Queen Elizabeth II said and smiled. “That was the smile I captured!”
I will leave you with his comment about what he does for others, and it is clearly from his heart, “I don’t give, to get slapped or patted on the back,” said Adams. “I give back because my music has given my name the ability to help others.”
I couldn’t agree more, that is how it should be!