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Image, branding and logos are obsessions of our age.  But what makes an image achieve such mega stardom that it is instantly recognisable, instantly conveys powerful associations, and transcends its original purpose and meaning; in short – what makes an image iconic?

To answer this question, Martin Kemp, emeritus professor in the History of Art at The University of Oxford, selects 11 very different images.  He begins with the image of Christ’s face, the founding icon – literally.  Other icons include the Mona Lisa, Che Guevara and the famous photograph of the napalmed girl in Vietnam. Others come from business, led by the Coca-Cola bottle, and from science, most notably the double helix of DNA.

Kemp tells the funny, improbable and illuminating stories woven around each icon. You will have your own opinion about the images – but you will not fail to be entertained and challenged by the narratives that emerge.