Kim Jones’s choice of words to describe his uncle Colin is the most fitting: “rebel”, “explorer”, “self-taught”. Colin Jones was always reinventing himself. And dreaming up other ways to engage, to create, to step off the beaten track. It all began in 1953, when he was recruited by The Royal Ballet School. Colin Jones may not have been a good pupil, but his impressive athletic abilities landed him onstage. He discovered the life of a dancer, international tours, a succession of roles and the exacting standards that came with them. It wasn’t long before he wanted to record, recount and share his life – with his family, in particular. Photography became a means of preserving a trace of his artistic experience. As always, he worked solo, without schooling or guidance, by following his instincts. |
Contacted by the newspaper The Observer, whose editors loved the sense of freedom in his images, he chose to give up dancing and devote himself to photography and journalism. Though he had no technical knowledge, he compensated for his limitations through open-mindedness and a dedication to others – an ethical conviction as much as an aesthetic one that he would uphold throughout his life. |
