The centenary of the birth of Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond, is tobe marked by a major exhibition of cover artwork from the books aboutthe suave secret agent 007 at the Fleming Collection at 13 BerkeleyStreet, London W1.
Bond Bound: Ian Fleming & The Art of Cover Design, which will be onshow from 22 April to 28 June 2008, will include unique and previouslyunseen archive material.
Fleming, who was born on 28 May 1908, was the grandson of Dundee-bornRobert Fleming (1845-1933), the founder of the investment bank thatbore his name for more than a century. The bank acquired the world’sfinest corporate collection of Scottish art now housed at The FlemingCollection, which is supported by the Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation, anindependent charity.
Bond Bound: Ian Fleming & The Art of Cover Design will cover allIan Fleming’s books including the children’s story Chitty Chitty BangBang and Thrilling Cities¬ -his collected travel journalism. However,much of the exhibition will inevitably chart the role of artists anddesigners in creating and defining the Bond look. The covers of Bondnovels stretching back more than half a century provide a fascinatingsnapshot of society’s changes attitudes to sex, feminism and politics.
Fleming’s first Bond novel Casino Royale was published in 1953, andthe author worked on the cover design himself, describing it as one of“exquisite symmetry and absolute chastity”. Over the ensuing decadesthe front cover was changed on several occasions reflecting a more openattitude towards sex and later a move towards greater simplicity onbook jackets.
The James Bond brand was established within the first few pages ofCasino Royale. 007 had cold, ruthless eyes, drove a 1933 4.5 litreBentley and drank Martinis “shaken not stirred”. He smoked Morlandcigarettes (a special Balkan and Turkish blend), carried a .25 Berettaautomatic handgun and soon met the enchanting Vesper Lynd, who wore ablack velvet dress “simple and yet with the touch of splendour thatonly half a a dozen couturiers in the world could achieve.” It was acompelling mixture of sex, style and violence that soon turned Bondinto the most famous fictional secret agent in history.
That in turn provided artists and designers with wonderfulopportunities to use their talents to the full. The exhibition willcome right up to date with the literary legacy of Ian Fleming,including artwork from Charlie Higson’s bestselling Young Bond series,The Moneypenny Diaries by Samantha Weinberg, which add a previouslyunknown female perspective to the Bond story and the latest instalmentin Bond’s adult life written as a tribute to Ian Fleming for theCentenary by Sebastian Faulks.
Bond Bound: Ian Fleming & The Art of Cover Design will beaccompanied by a catalogue containing essays by a number of expertsincluding Alan Powers, an art historian and author of two publicationson the design of book jackets. The exhibition will go on tour after itcloses in London.
The Fleming Collection exhibition is one of a series of events marking the centenary of Ian Fleming’s birth. These will include:
- The new James Bond novel Devil May Care written by Sebastian Faulks.
- A major exhibition celebrating the life of Ian Fleming at theImperial War Museum in London from 25 April 2008 to 1 March 2009.
- A special Ian Fleming’s James Bond stamp issue, featuring the book covers, produced by the Royal Mail.
- A BBC Radio Four dramatisation of the Bond novel Dr No.
The Fleming Collection is supported by the Fleming-Wyfold Art Foundation
For further information and images:
Cawdell Douglas
10-11 Lower John Street
London W1F 9EB
T: + 44 (0)20 7439 2822
F: + 44 (0)20 7287 5488
Notes to Editors:
The Fleming Collection
13 Berkeley Street
London W1
Tel: +44 (0)20 7409 5730
Fax: +44 (0)20 7409 573
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