As one of the world’s most provocative photographers, Rankin is no stranger to challenge and controversy. In addition to shooting for prestigious fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle, his list of portrait subjects spans Queen Elizabeth II, Mikhail Gorbachev and the Rolling Stones.
As a tribute to the lady figurine which has crowned the hood of every one of its car for the last century, it seems apt that the equally formidable Rolls-Royce would commission Rankin to shoot the Spirit of Ecstasy project. Obsessed with deconstructing the boundaries of beauty, Rankin is intrigued by the mystique which surrounds the Flying Lady. The collection will consist of a hundred contemporary images, each inspired by a quality that Rankin associates with the female form, be it power, grace or ageless beauty.
An ongoing art project, new images would be added to the collection throughout the Spirit of Ecstasy’s centenary year. This unique collection of portraits will be shown exclusively at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars events and dealerships this year.