SCALE – Major Photography Exhibition Runs In London Until End Of August

Kane Hibberd Pictured With Paul McCartneys Hofner Bass

Artists Involved Talk about Scale
“It makes me fall in love with my guitar all over again” Kelley Deal, The Breeders on Scale
“Simply incredible” Will Sergeant, Echo & The Bunnymen
“This project made me rekindle my relationship with this guitar” Bob Weir, The Grateful Dead
“You feel like you can lift it out of the case” Bruce Welch, The Shadows
“An incredible exhibition that offers a deep dive into an instrument that gives us hours in heaven, and glimpses of hell” Matt Murphy, The Wombats

The incredible new exhibition Scale is now showing at Unlocked in Shoreditch until the 31^st August 2025. Nearest tubes are Old Street and Liverpool Street.

“It’s the one I pick first, or sometimes last.  That guitar always has the last word.” Taken from narrated audio guide for picture 101. Tom Morello

A compelling photographic journey exploring the intimate relationship between artist and instrument, Scale features super high-resolution, life-sized images of 100 guitars underscored by candid, fascinating, intriguing and sometimes hilarious stories of their life, their owners and their incredible contribution to the history of music. The stories come via the provision of high quality headphones and a free audio guide allowing visitors to hear the stories at their own pace. Short versions narrated by Radio 1’s Dan Carter and detailed longer stories narrated by radio announcer Mel Bampton.

How did CAPTAIN SENSIBLE’S guitar save his life…How KEITH URBAN ended up with WAYLON JENNINGS guitar (and what NICOLE KIDMAN had to do with it)…how the Finnish Hells Angels were involved in REM’s PETER BUCK’SRickenbacker…Or who NOEL GALLAGHER got the guitar from that he wrote Wonderwall…

“Playing guitar is everything. It’s a lifetime of obsession, friendship, ambition, emotion, discovery, discipline, late nights, early mornings, ear ringing volume to a fragile whisper, pleasure and achievement.  There’s always something to do with a guitar.” Taken from narrated audio guide for picture 154. Johnny Marr, The Smiths, The Cribs, Solo

The exhibition covers all areas of contemporary music – from STEVE ALBINI (Black Flag, Nirvana) to ROBBY KRIEGER (The Doors), from KERRY KING (Slayer) to KEVIN PARKER (Tame Impala), from MATTY HEALY (The 1975) to JUSTIN HAWKINS (The Darkness), there really is something for every music fan to lose themselves for hours exploring the two floors of SCALE…

“A guitar for me is what I think through.” Taken from narrated audio guide for picture 218. John Frusciante, Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Suzi Quatro With Her Bass At the Scale Exhition

Scale is the brainchild of multi award-winning Australian music photographer Kane Hibberd who has spent the last twelve      years travelling the globe asking iconic guitarists to share the innermost secrets of their favourite guitar. Strictly one per artist – their most cherished piece – world famous names, rock gods, punks and virtuosos have answered the call and invited Kane to photograph their precious instruments in life-size detail, front and back – 1:1 – at scale.

“It feels like a lot of photography is now created and consumed within a short amount of time. I wanted to work on something that took years, rather than days or weeks and keep it all offline,” says Hibberd, relieved to be speaking candidly after years of secrecy. “This has been an incredible journey, a real labour of love”

Scale: A Photographic Exhibition by Kane Hibberd Until 31 August | Unlocked Shoreditch | 118 Curtain Rd, LONDON, EC2A 3AY

Website and booking: www.scale-exhibition.com
Instagram: @scale.exhibition
Facebook: @scale.exhibit
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