Picture caption (Top) - 'How Do I Look?' will open this Saturday at Abbey House Museum.
Picture caption (Bottom) - A range of items will feature in the exhibition, including a 1930's manicure set.
An exciting exhibition showcasing the changing fashions in hair, make-up and manicure that have risen to prominence over the decades and centuries is set to open its doors at a Leeds museum later this week.
Not to be missed for anyone with an eye and passion for fashion, the ‘How do I Look?’ exhibition at Abbey House Museum will be open from 24 January -31 December 2015. An array of diverse and fascinating objects from Leeds Museums and Galleries vast collections will feature in the exhibition including: Ancient Egyptian kohl pots,1960s false eye-lashes, Victorian corsets, curling tongs, 1950s perm machines and cut-throat razors.
The display will also feature portraits of contemporary Leeds people, each with their own unique style, which were taken by the award-winning photographer Sara Porter specifically for this exhibition. These will be shown alongside images from the museum collections including portraits on ancient coins, periwigged oil paintings and 20th century photographs from the Yorkshire Post archive. There is also the chance to see newly digitised footage from the Yorkshire Film Archive featuring 1970s hairdressing students and 1950s hairdressing competitions.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for digital and creative technologies, culture and skills said:
"We cannot wait for the opening of the ‘How do I Look’ exhibition at Abbey House Museum, which will provide a fresh and alternative look at image and style through the decades and centuries and across the world.
"A really exciting and innovative element of the display will be a number of portraits taken by award-winning photographer Sara Porter, featuring people living in and around Leeds today, is certain to attract a lot of interest and debate."
For full details of the exhibition, please visit www.leeds.gov.uk/howdoilook with updates communicated using the #HowDoILook hashtag via Leeds Museums and Galleries’ social media accounts on Twitter (www.twitter.com/LeedsMuseums) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/LeedsMuseumsAndGalleries)
Notes for editors:
Abbey House Museum is an interactive family-friendly museum overlooking Kirkstall Abbey in Kirkstall, just three miles from the city centre of Leeds. The ground floor of the museum is set out with three authentic Victorian streets illustrating a range of shops, houses and services from 1880s Leeds. Upstairs galleries feature the Childhood Gallery and the Community Gallery showcasing the nationally important collection of toys and games, as well as temporary exhibitions.
Admission:
Adults £4.00, child £2.00, conc £3.20, family ticket £8.40*
*based on to adults and up to three children.
Mondays closed (except bank holiday Mondays) Tues-Fri and Sun 10am-5pm, Sat 12pm-5pm (last admission 4pm).
For more information on Abbey House museum, please visit: www.leeds.gov.uk/abbeyhouse
Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578
Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk