Shake It: An Instant History Of The Polaroid

Shake It: An Instant History of the Polaroid is a timely exploration of the cultural significance and the diversity of the much-loved instantly recognisable instant camera. Timely because the last batch of Polaroid film expired in October 2009, this Pumphouse Gallery exhibition in Battersea Park includes Polaroid prints by artists well known for their use of the camera including David Hockney and Andy Warhol, as well as casual snaps which help to identify a shoe collection and reference shots taken in casting sessions. Used for everything from forensics to filmmaking and fashion, Shake It shows how the Polaroid has reached iconic status, used by professional artists, photographers and amateurs alike. If the popularity of the Polaroid was in doubt you only have to go to polaroid.net to see the largest gallery of Polaroid pictures online. And, Polaroid fans who are concerned that their beloved camera may never be used again will be relieved to learn that there are plans afoot - orchestrated by Austrian artist and businessman Florian Kaps and dubbed The Impossible Project - to produce film for vintage Polaroid cameras in 2010 as well as re-launching some of the most famous Polaroid Instant Cameras.