Julian Lennon is showcasing his latest photography exhibition, ‘Whispers – A Julian Lennon Retrospective,’ at Le Stanze della Fotografia in Venice this summer, from August 28 to November 24, 2024.
Julian Lennon, the first son of legendary Beatle John Lennon, is taking another step to carve out his own identity, distinct from his father’s towering legacy. This summer, he’ll be exhibiting his photography in Venice at Le Stanze della Fotografia, with a show titled ‘Whispers – A Julian Lennon Retrospective,’ running from August 28 to November 24, 2024.
Curated by Lennon and his creative associate Sandrina Bonetti Rubelli, the exhibition marks an important chapter in Julian’s artistic journey. It will cover his evolution from the world of music to that of photography. His interest in photography started to take serious shape back in 2010 with the opening of ‘Timeless: The Photography of Julian Lennon’ at New York’s Morrison Hotel Gallery. That exhibit focused on landscapes and portraits, featuring celebrity friends like U2 and actress Kate Hudson.
Julian has shared that his passion for photography grew deeper during a two-week stint on tour with his brother, Sean Lennon. ‘I surprised him on the road,’ Julian recalls. ‘I literally turned up at a gig.’ From then on, photography became another powerful medium for him to express his unique way of observing life.
Using a variety of cameras, including the Sony A7R IV, Leica Q2, Fujifilm GFX 50S, and even his iPhone, Julian captures moments that speak to his distinct perspective. ‘In the past, I shot with a Canon 5D Mark IV,’ he mentioned in an interview with Interiors Magazine. ‘I also take a large amount of photos on my iPhone, if that’s all I have with me at the time.’
In his conversation with Rolling Stone, Julian noted that his father wasn’t much of a photographer, which allows him a sense of freedom. ‘My dad wasn’t really a photographer, so it just allows me to breathe a little more,’ he said. ‘He used to take a couple Polaroids, but it wasn’t a potential career. This is my own thing.’
Julian’s relationship with his father was often strained, particularly after John divorced Julian’s mother, Cynthia, to be with Yoko Ono. In 2020, Julian even changed his name from John Charles Julian Lennon to Julian Charles John Lennon to further distance himself from being seen as a ‘second John.’ ‘I was tired of being the second John, so to speak, so by deed poll in 2020 I just switched the John and the Julian, to finally put myself first,’ Julian explained in an interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy for Channel 4 in 2022.
Julian Lennon’s upcoming exhibition in Venice represents more than just an array of photographs; it’s a testament to his journey of self-discovery and artistic evolution, further distancing himself from his father’s legacy.
