Stars Turn Out for Nicole Fahri Launch at Pitzhanger
Bill Nighy and Simon Callow among guests at launch of J'Accuse
Bill Nighy peruses the exhibits. Picture: Aston Law
March 20, 2025
It was a star-studded night this Tuesday (18 March) at the Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery as some well-known faces appeared among the hundred or so guests at an exhibition launch.
Leading figures from the literary and art world and stars of stage and screen, as well as those working in the field of justice, had gathered for the launch of J’Accuse…! — an exhibition of sculptures by artist and designer Nicole Farhi.
Among the notable attendees were actors Bill Nighy and Simon Callow, who have both worked with Nicole Fahri’s husband David Hare, with Simon Callow’s association going back to his appearance in Plenty at the National Theatre in 1978 and Bill Nighy has had a longstanding collaboration with the playwright, appearing in multiple stage and screen productions of his work. Also present was author and health expert Dr Miriam Stoppard
The exhibition, which runs until 15 June, highlights the victims of historical and contemporary cases of miscarriages of justice through a series of hand-sculpted busts.
Taking its name from Émile Zola’s 1898 open letter drawing attention to the case of wrongfully imprisoned Captain Alfred Dreyfus, J’Accuse…! presents 25 busts of individuals who were wrongfully convicted across the world, from the infamous case of Timothy Evans in 1950 that led to the abolition of capital punishment in the UK, to the recent exoneration of Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.
Alongside the works, visitors can discover the stories behind each bust through supplementary material available in the exhibition.
Nicole Farhi said at the opening, “J’Accuse...! is an exhibition about the weight of accusation and the fragility of justice. The 25 faces I sculpted are, for me, symbols of injustice. These people are victims of flawed systems, false assumptions, and public hysteria… Looking at those faces, we acknowledge not only their suffering but our responsibility to remember.”
Speaking on the night, Clare Gough, Director of Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, said, “The focus of Nicole’s work is the person behind the headlines and the legal arguments. The person who has endured years, in many cases decades, of the loss of their liberty, and of course, in so many cases, the loss of their life as well. Her work helps us to look at and remember these people and what they have been through.”
Simon Callow ponders the displays at the exhibition. Picture: Lucinda MacPherson
Alongside the exhibition, a programme of public talks and events will explore themes of justice, art, and historical memory, including a discussion between Nicole Farhi and criminal defence solicitor and APPEAL’s Co-Director Matt Foot on 1 May. APPEAL is the campaign organisation behind the acquittal of Andrew Malkinson.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive March 20, 2025 We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |