Rankin - BT Essence of the Entrepreneur

Apparently this week’s good news is that, according to our ever trustworthy government, the U.K. has at last emerged from the depths of recession. As we wander up and down our high streets, confronted by the bleak shells of once prosperous shops this is somewhat hard to believe. It’s hardly something to inspire us with hope.

This week’s real good news, for both the business and the art world, is that a new exhibition by renowned photographer Rankin is offering us more tangible proof of the long awaited economic recovery. Teaming up with the 4th annual BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur competition, Rankin has aimed his ever incisive lens at 20 enterprising tycoons of the future, capturing the unique brands of fearless ingenuity that promise to make Britain great once more.

If Rankin is most famous for snapping celebs (think saucy shots of Kylie in almost see through black dress), he is also a master of detail. He is fascinated by an individual’s quirkiness, the unique, perhaps barely noticeable idiosyncrasies that make up a complex personality.  He does not disappoint in this show – his candid shots highlight the diverse passions that have made these talented business people leaders in their field.

The vibrantly colourful images capture the entrepreneurs showcasing their ideas. The range of fresh, invigorating business plans is staggering – green grocers sit alongside jelly sculptors and gift wrapping services, while the world’s smallest GPS tracker competes with tailor made trainers. The overriding focus is firmly on the use of the internet as a way of functioning in today’s busy, speed obsessed world. The message is simple:- there is no prize for second place.

By asking each person to pose in a unique way with their products, Rankin has transformed the dull reputation of the business world into something wildly exciting and esoteric. Black and grey suited figures are surrounded by exploding presents, or a wheel barrow full of exotic fruit. Most striking though are the national winners’ animated faces. These are expressions of barely contained joy and optimism, worlds apart from the glum, stone-like features of Alastair Darling prophesying a slow recovery in monotone on the ITV news.

With so many inspirational concepts on display, a really big name was needed to announce the overall winner at Wednesday’s opening. Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones rose to the occasion urging Britain to be less coy about celebrating success as he handed a £10000 cheque to overall winner Robert Matthams.

Matthams’ business provides a forum for people to list goods and ebay items they want to move and then prompts haulers to submit bids for how much they are willing to carry out the service for. Rankin snapped him crunched up in an empty cardboard box, his eyes sparkling with self-confidence.

This is a show for anyone (which is perhaps everyone) who is disheartened by the painfully slow journey our country is taking to get back on its feet. There is nothing lackadaisical about Rankin’s subjects. These characteristically energised images mirror the can-do attitudes that, with any luck, will safeguard our future. Only time will tell. What is certain, however, is that Rankin’s beacon of hope is guaranteed to inspire considerably more exhilaration than news of a 0.1% increase in gross domestic product.

BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur, gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf, London, SE1 9PH, until 28 February.