Beautiful dance of nudity

Annie Liebovitz's portraits are never less than extraordinary; she has an intuitive ability to editorialise which can't help but distil her subject's essence. Initially then, her choice to follow up the Women exhibition with a show decidedly not about personality comes as something of a surprise.

But look closely at these images of dancers' bodies and it becomes apparent Liebovitz is exploring more classical portraiture, where composition - framing, texture and pose - is all the commentary required. At a time when celebrity and personality are prized more highly than an individual's body of work, Liebovitz's anonymous nudes force us to contemplate beauty and worth in the (generally) purer context of art.

These are bodies used as machines, stretched to their limits in pursuance of perfect timing, grace and athleticism, yet Liebovitz captures them at rest, simply standing or reclined, concentrating on their beauty as a by-product of their efforts; this is art for art's sake. Along the way though, she forces questions on the boundary between art and pornography: taking the latter's preference for torsos over whole beings, she imbues her images with such reverence they retain their sexuality without ever feeling objectified. Annie Liebovitz: Nudes

Today until June 23, Shine Gallery, 3 Jubilee Place SW3
Tue to Sat noon to 6pm, free.
Tel: 020 7352 4499.
Tube: South Kensington/ Sloane Square