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For the first time in the Middle East, musician Bryan Adams is presenting his photography exhibition #SHOTBYADAMS at the JD Malat Gallery in Downtown Dubai. The collection features nearly 200 intimate portraits of cultural icons, including Queen Elizabeth II and the Dalai Lama. Adams’ work is praised for stripping away the “persona” of celebrity to reveal something more raw and human. The exhibition showcases a new volume of his work from the past 10 years, following his 2012 book, Exposed.
The Intersection of Music and Photography
In an interview, Adams explains that his two creative passions, music and photography, complement each other. He sees photography not as a replacement for music, but as a way to visualize his songwriting. While his music often draws on nostalgia, Adams states that his photography is more about looking forward, with a preference for black-and-white images because of their timeless and iconic quality. He also revealed that he even used an iPhone for his most recent album cover, showing his openness to new technology.
A New Chapter in Art and Inspiration
Adams’ latest exhibition introduces a new element: portraits printed on plexiglass that refract and distort the images. He explains this experiment was inspired by the pop art movement of the 1970s and his desire to “reimagine things.” The goal is to challenge viewers’ assumptions and encourage them to see the subjects differently. Through this work, Adams hopes his legacy will show that it is possible to “come from nothing… and you can make people happy.”
