Fancy some Rankin? Don’t worry, it won’t make you go blind.

When Madonna brought out a book provocatively entitled Sex, there was no grey area as to whether the title accurately reflected the content. With Rankin's exhibition at Proud Galleries, it's a little more subtle.

Skinny, intertwining freckled limbs or exotically named models squeezing their nipples may titillate on paper, but any semblance of soft porn is eclipsed by the strength of Rankin's portraiture.

Famed for his Dazed & Confused front covers, Rankin's decision to shoot a series of nudes incorporating a beaten-up retro leather sofa was hardly groundbreaking. But even sceptics would find it hard to argue he hasn't delivered some impressive black-and-white images. Ironically, his previous Nude exhibition had a stronger whiff of sex about it, so thrill seekers may find this show disappointing.

Rankin’s never been one to flirt with special effects or be seduced by the latest processing techniques. He doesn't need to. At his best, he captures faces like sculptures. In fact, he doesn’t even need any sex in the exhibition for it to sell. But the suggestion never hurts. JK 19 September 02

Sex Show is at Proud Galleries, 5 Buckingham Street, London WC2 from 18 September-19 October.
Admission £3 (concessions £2). Tel 020 7839 4942.

Sofasosexy (Vision On Publishing, £12.99) contains all the images from the exhibition.