A-HA: Photographs by Stian Andersen

Strand Gallery is pleased to announce an exclusive exhibition of Norwegian superband A-ha; a series of stunning black and white images of the band’s intimate and iconic moments from acclaimed photographer Stian Andersen. To the very first photo he took of the band in 1994 to the very last concert on December 4, 2010, Andersen has been closer to the band than any other photographer. Backstage, on stage; in private planes and hotel rooms: all taken with Andersen’s analogue film camera - apparent in the grainy, atmospheric quality of the images - see A-ha as you have never seen them before.

Andersen worked as A-ha´s photographer for ten years shooting the band’s different album covers and promotional photos. To capture the images in this exhibition he travelled with the band across the globe to twenty cities in twelve different countries for a total of 37 concerts: to places like Tokyo, Osaka, Rio, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago De Chile, St Petersburg, Minsk, Moscow, London and New Jersey. He was even there for the recording of their last ever album “Foot Of The Mountain” and the band’s emotional final concert.

Andersen went to the UK and London five times (to different venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, O2 Arena, Heaven and Wembley Arena) to capture six UK A-ha concerts. In this collection - brought to the UK for the first time and based on Andersen’s book A-ha Photographs 1994-2010 - see loyal fans clutching banners, arenas packed with chanting fans and the band performing in the spotlight. Andersen documents the energetic and globally-celebrated reunion of A-ha.