It’s the time of year when photography students across the UK are bringing their work in to the public eye at degree shows. Providing an additional platform to showcase the work of this emerging talent in the north west of England is Manchester Photographic Gallery.
Nestled in Manchester’s fashionable Northern Quarter, this photography gallery hails itself on presenting the esteemed work of local photographers, and photographers from all over the world who are based in Manchester. Given WPO’s interest in supporting photography students, particularly through our Student Focus programme, we were thrilled to hear about the upcoming ’5′ exhibition of work by third year BA Photography Students from Manchester College. The photographs will cover a broad range of subjects, including the likes of images of Morris Dancers, a pig’s head and spiritual ephemera; private moments and personal resilience. All prints by the students are for sale.
The exhibition brings together the work of five students:
Moments of the Quiet by Faith Holgate
Souvenir De Lourdes by Howard Harrison
Everything but the Squeal by Josephine Yates
Great Britain – Manchester Morris Men by Richard Manning
and Untitled by Tarnia Kapow
Photographer’s Statements:
Faith Holgate - Moments of the Quiet
Private moments can be a time of reflection where one can seek clarity or subconsciously stumble upon a moment of realisation; they are shared with no-one and often go unnoticed.
This series of photographs is an exploration of the boundary between the physicalities and the mental state of a person absorbed in a private moment.
Howard Harrison - Souvenir De Lourdes
Lourdes, a small market town at the foot of the Pyrenees. It exudes spirituality, a place visited by thousands of people, some hoping for a miracle, others simply wanting to worship and give thanks.
Where for most people spiritual wealth is high on the agenda, Lourdes also provides others with a great deal of financial wealth. Is nothing sacred?
Josephine Yates - Everything But the Squeal
In days gone by it was often said “you can eat everything on a pig but it’s squeal.” Faced with economic and environmental uncertainty our ancestors wasted nothing, treating food animals with a respect and gratitude that is less common today.
With this project, it has been my aim to bring people face to face with their food, capturing the humanity of an animal that has graced our dinner tables in many different guises.
It is not my intention to condone or condemn the consumption of meat, but merely to encourage thought about the origin and level of waste associated with the practice.
Richard Manning – Great Britain – Manchester Morris Men
I set out to document a cultural group of unique individuals that each hold a common identity within our diverse society. This Nations new found pride prompted me to explore Great British traditionalists,
The Manchester Morris Men are one of many cultural diverse circles within this metropolis that I intend to study.
My portraits aim to capture the dignity and honour that each Morris Man holds in being a part of his particular cultural family.
These men are guards of Great British culture.
Tarnia Kapow - Untitled
Whilst it cannot be denied that Africa is a long struggling nation, the most commonly portrayed almost dehumanizing images aimed at evoking pity and inspiring charity tell a one dimensional story.
In travelling and naturally capturing those met along the way, I hope to show the spectrum of positivity in this nation’s resilience, capability, warmth and laughter.
The exhibition will be open 15/06/11 – 20/06/11
