Following a successful run that touched down in Australia, the UK and Japan last year, documentarian and photographer Jonathan Rach has begun his retrospective photo exhibition Jonathan Rach: Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral Exhibition in the U.S. Recently celebrating the exhibition's debut in New York earlier this month, the collection of iconic imagery was showcased at the Morrison Hotel Gallery for the first time stateside.
The exhibition showcases Rach's ability to bottle lighting with a click, capturing the magnitude of Nine Inch Nails' meteoric rise to international stardom on the pivotal 1994-1996 Self Destruct World Tour. The exhibition also coincide with the 30th anniversary of Nine Inch Nails' definitive Downward Spiral release - a submission widely regarded as one of the era's most influential and important works.
Rach shared of the gallery opening and the collection of images that will be featured, "To be able to show this collection after so many years and see how fans connect with it has been such a rewarding and unexpected gift,” says Rach. “I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and discussing these captured moments in music history as part of the celebration.”
The limited exhibition boasts some 20 powerful images capturing a comprehensive look at Nine Inch Nails during one of the band's most formidable eras. Rach's first-hand perspective preserved some of the band's most intimate, behind the scenes moments to career-defining highlights - all in the same presentation.
The collection also features icons like David Bowie and Lou Reed, as well as highlights from the band's monumental six-night engagement at the Hollywood Palladium in 2018, underscoring the enduring importance of the era and the breadth of the presentation overall.
Given the acclaim of the unveiling in New York, Rach has again teamed with Behind the Gallery to showcase the exhibition with a Los Angeles engagement set for early next month.
Rach will also speak at the during the opening weekend rollout, offering some context and perspective to the comprehensive collection. Jonathan Rach: Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral will be featured for limited time, March 6th through the 9th at 7615 Sunset Blvd.
Get complete information on the gallery opening and details of the exhibition via Behind the Gallery - HERE
For fans unable to attend the exhibition tour stops, Jonathan Rach has sourced a sort of excerpt to share far and wide. Selecting some of the more sentimental shots from the collection, Rach revisits the context of the images, offering some insight as to why the photo preserved a very special moment in time.
Some three decades after the film was developed, these images offer testament to the longevity of Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails, framed by the man behind the camera that saw greatness play out in real time.
Rach - I was trying to get a shot of Trent during the performance of “Hurt” which is somewhat dominated by the front of house projectors. I decided to go on stage, behind Trent, to see if I could get anything. It was turning out to be a disadvantaged location because of the glaring lights from the projectors.
Eventually, I positioned myself just behind Trent and for a brief moment, he blocked the lights, and I was able to take the shot. To my surprise, when I got the film back, I had captured Trent right at the moment the image of the boy was on the screen. To me this image represents a more somber side of the performances the boy’s eyes represents that. It just felt powerful.
Rach - This shot was taken from the side of the stage, and he happens to lock eyes with the camera right as I was taking the picture. It’s also the tenth shot in on the very first role of film I ever shot of Trent.
Rach - We were invited to play at a three-city, three-day music festival in Australia. We had just landed the night before and it was directly to the concerts. I liked this shot because it includes the crowd reaction and Trent’s presence all in one image. I love the expression of the concert goer as if a wall of sound was coming at him... and it was.
Rach - This was a common occurrence, instruments being played beyond their capability as part of the performance, and in this image the mic stand was contributing to the sounds coming from the drums.
Rach - This was at the end of “Head Like A Hole” and I guess there was no more use for that guitar. It served it purpose.
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Jonathan Rach: Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral opens in Los Angeles, March 6th through the 9th at 7615 Sunset Blvd. Get complete information on the gallery opening and details of the exhibition via Behind the Gallery - HERE
