A major new music exhibition is set to take over Shoreditch this summer, as Scale: A Photographic Exhibition by Kane Hibberd makes its world premiere at Unlocked, London, running from 12 June to 31 August 2025.
Offering an extraordinary visual journey into the soul of modern music, Scale presents life-sized, ultra high-resolution portraits of 100 legendary guitars – each a revered extension of the artists who wielded them. From Paul McCartney’s iconic Höfner bass to Joan Jett’s battle-scarred Melody Maker, the exhibition invites visitors to examine every chip, scratch and story etched into the wood.
Among the featured artists are Dave Grohl, Chrissie Hynde, Noel Gallagher, Ed Sheeran, Kirk Hammett, Jack White, Nile Rodgers, Johnny Marr, Courtney Barnett, and Kevin Parker, with each guitar paired with intimate and often surprising anecdotes – some funny, others moving, but all deeply personal.
The brainchild of award-winning Australian music photographer Kane Hibberd, the project has been over 12 years in the making. Speaking ahead of the launch, Hibberd said:
"This has been an incredible journey – a real labour of love. I wanted to create something timeless, not driven by the pace of digital consumption. It’s been kept completely offline until now – the people I met, the stories I heard, and the places I ended up have all been part of an epic adventure."
Hibberd travelled the globe with one question for music’s biggest names: What’s your most beloved guitar? The result is a series of stunning 1:1 scale images that capture the intimate relationship between artist and instrument, showing guitars as living, evolving tools of creativity and expression.
Scale is more than just an exhibition – it's a visual love letter to the guitars that shaped music history. A must-see for music fans, photographers, guitarists, and anyone with a passion for rock and roll heritage.
Scale: A Photographic Exhibition by Kane Hibberd
12 June – 31 August 2025
Unlocked Shoreditch, 118 Curtain Rd, London, EC2A 3AY