The Princess Diana exhibition: a royal success
Kira Bretsky, Staff Writer
As it turns out, Harry and Meghan are not the only former royals that have found refuge in Southern California; the Princess Diana Accredited Access Ex As it turns out, Harry and Meghan are not the only former royals that have found refuge in Southern California; the Princess Diana Accredited Access Exhibition opened at the Santa Monica Place in December, bringing elegance to Colorado Avenue. With a $24 ticket fee for students ($32 for adults), the “walk-through documentary” features life-size portraits of British royalty as well as an audio tour. Diana’s iconic fashion is definitely back in style – in addition to the recent takeover of bike shorts paired with sweatshirts, the exhibit features unique art installations inspired by vintage regal trends. But is this experience simply rephrasing all of the other Princess Diana media that has taken the world by storm?
The answer is no. The exhibit is mesmerizing.
I visited the exhibit on a Sunday morning by myself. I had originally planned to go with a friend, but I found unexpected solace in the silent maze of photographs. I had assumed that people would be talking about the pictures and sharing the experience, but everyone was wearing their own set of headphones and taking it in individually – whether they came in a group or by themselves. There were about five people, including myself, in the first section of the maze as I began, but everyone moved at their own pace, and it wasn’t long before we were all spread out and I forgot that anyone else was even in the building.
Though some of the images featured are well-known, the narration provided by the people behind the cameras is unique. Anwar Hussein, Diana’s primary photographer, and his sons Samir and Zak Hussein offer insight into the princess’s experiences – as well as those of the next generation. The audio tour is captivating, and the Husseins’ personal anecdotes provide a reality check of the princess’s seemingly lavish life. The Husseins aimed to capture raw moments and emotion, which is palpable within the exhibit. It’s refreshing to see the familiar portraits accompanied by a story that isn’t news coverage.
The photographs paired with their generational parallels spark existential reflections, and the atmosphere of the exhibit is nothing short of enthralling. The listening devices provided include headphones and a selection of spoken descriptions for each photo, and the silence outside of the narration compels a sense of intimacy.
Watching Diana’s life as royalty unfold from a brand new perspective is an experience not to miss. The exhibit will be open through the winter and spring, and it is well worth the five-minute walk from Samo.
A telephone playing an audio explaination of the Diana Walkthrough in-front of the in-person photo. These explainaions allowed for individual enjoyment of the exhibit.