Hold Still 2020

Brace yourself and grab some tissues because yesterday the National Portrait Gallery launches Hold Still, an online exhibition featuring 100 photographs taken by ordinary people during lockdown.

The idea came from National Portrait Gallery’s Patron, the Duchess of Cambridge, who knows a thing or two about photography. Back in May, she invited the public to contribute to an open-call “community project”, recording everyday life amid the pandemic: hold still, Britain, while we take a photographic portrait of the nation. Of course, this came at a time when all of British people, at the government’s behest, were “holding still”.

On May 7th, 2020, The Duchess of Cambridge launched a national community photography project aiming to capture the “spirit, hopes, mood, fears and feelings” of the UK during the continued unusual period we’re all living because of this global pandemic. She appeared on “This Morning with Phillip and Holly” to talk about the project:

In early June, even The Countess of Wessex contributed to “Hold Still” by submitting her own photo taken while she was at an engagement during volunteers week!

“Ali’s smile captures the enthusiasm for helping others that is so evident amongst the volunteers.”

Volunteers at the @ShahJahanMosque established their COVID-19 foodbank to support vulnerable households, NHS workers and those self-isolating during the outbreak. pic.twitter.com/7mli6PtxLf

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 4, 2020

Titled ‘Packed with love’ the image taken on the Countess’s phone shows Ali Abbas, 26, who helped to establish the mosque’s food parcel delivery service for NHS workers, people self-isolating and other families in need during the Covid-19 outbreak.

A week before submissions closed, Kensington Palace posted a video of The Duchess of Cambridge sharing some pictures that had been submitted up to that point:

With one week before the entry window closes for the 'Hold Still' project, The Duchess of Cambridge shares some of the amazing images and stories that have been submitted so far.

The deadline for #HoldStill2020 entries is next Thursday, 18th of June at 6pm UK time. pic.twitter.com/P1YM4QHdTS

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 11, 2020

The Duchess of Cambridge along with her amazing panel of judges – Director of National Portrait Gallery, Nicholas Cullinan, Writer and poet, Lemn Sissay MBE, Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May and 2018 Portrait of Britain Winner, Maryam Wahid – have chosen the one hundred Images from the Hold Still project which saw an amazing 31,598 submission!

At the end of August, Kensington Palace revealed the other individuals who joined The Duchess of Cambridge on the judging panel along with revealing that they had received 31,598 submissions!

From the 31,598 submissions, these amazing judges have chosen one hundred images that will feature in a gallery without walls – a one of a kind digital exhibition – which will launch on Monday 14th September.

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) August 30, 2020

Last week National Portrait Gallery also released a small teaser with three of the shortlisted pictures:

We are excited to reveal three more images from #HoldStill2020 community photography project. Spearheaded by the Duchess of Cambridge, the final 100 will feature in a digital exhibition, launching on Monday 14 September. pic.twitter.com/f94ABptcxS

— Portrait Gallery (@NPGLondon) September 7, 2020

And finally, on 14th September, yesterday, the final 100 choices for “Hold Still, a portrait of our nation in 2020” were revealed in a gallery without walls – a one of a kind digital exhibition – that was spearheaded by The Duchess of Cambridge as Patron of the National Portrait Gallery!

Today's the day!

The Hold Still digital exhibition is now live and we are delighted to share with you the final 100 portraits selected from the 31,598 submissions! #HoldStill2020 pic.twitter.com/n5Jrel657y

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) September 14, 2020

Since the gallery remains closed for refurbishment until 2023, the photographs are, for now, available digitally. But there are plans eventually to show them across the country.

The Duchess of Cambridge showed a small selection of the final 100 choices to Her Majesty The Queen ahead of the launch during The Cambridges’ annual family holiday at Balmoral, Scotland last month and The Queen has given her thoughts. She has written and released a letter thanking all those who took part in the Hold Still 2020 campaign on the day of the reveal! Take a look below:

Today the final 100 images for #HoldStill2020 have been unveiled.

The Queen has sent a message of congratulations to the 31,598 people who submitted an image to the project. pic.twitter.com/7RfHvT4jSp

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 14, 2020

Click here and visit the National Portrait Gallery’s website and the online gallery to see final 100 portraits!

We’re really lucky to have a garden by Robert Coyle | NPG: 93/100 | CREDIT: Robert Coyle

While works by professional photographers did make the final cut (frankly, they stand out), this isn’t a conventional fine-art exhibition. Indeed, dozens of images are – in a technical sense – weak or flawed. Few, though, are forgettable. The judges weren’t bothered about aesthetic issues such as composition or lighting. Instead, they wanted emotion – often heart-wrenching, sometimes uplifting – and a sense of real lives being experienced by real people.

Alastair Sooke, Art critic 4/5

Visit National Portrait Gallery’s website: npg.org.uk

Birthday lockdown by Kate Sargent and Rachel Scarfe | NPG: 63/100 | CREDIT: Kate Sargent and Rachel Scarfe

Forever Holding Hands by Hayley Evans | NPG: 84/100 | CREDIT: Hayley Evans

Thank You by Wendy Huson | NPG: 27/100 | CREDIT: Wendy Huson