Exhibitions Attended
In order to gain ideas and inspiration, I have attended a handful of documentary exhibitions and talks whilst researching this module.
The images are technically clever and very creative, however I did not connect with Larke's work.
I did understand it, and appreciated it. Her project's aim is to raise awareness of mental health.
Here are a few of the images that were on disp[ay at Penarth Pier Pavillion. They are communicating her state of mind and past depression.
The message they give to me - is situations of despair
David Hurn
David Hurn inspires me for his ability to take simple photographs for himself and his subject. He manages to capture personalities in his work. He particularly passionate about photographing his surroundings and the Welsh Valleys.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 'talk' evening with David Hurd and Martin Parr.
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The focus of discussion was on Parr's career and his success with the photography organisation 'Magnum'.
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David Turn, asked Parr questions to prompt a live discussion.
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Stilled Lives - Exhibition at Ffotogallery, Turner House, Penarth, Cardiff
This exhibition was not one I liked or impressed with. I think this was because the images weren't aesthetically pleasing.
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I accept that the artist has a point to make, and that is, she is communicating 'Diets' and gluttony.
The images were staged and used to deliver a message of how the consumer abuses food and its effects on health
A particular image of rotten meat was offensive, so much that I didn't take an image of it.
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The only encouraging reflection I can share, is that the presentation of the work was exceptional with no expense spared. Some work printed on ceramic plaques.
Day by Day Exhibition - Norwegian Church, Cardiff Bay
I attended this exhibition at the Norwegian Church - Cardiff Bay 7th March 2018
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It turned out to be a great experience, I loved Richard Gaunt's work. It inspired me and I made an instant connection with his 60yr collection.
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His work is not dissimilar to 'The Valleys Archive', where he has documented the Welsh Valleys throughout the 1970s.
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Covering the Coal, Iron and Steel Industry and its social changes, effects on its people.
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He also covers some of the Welsh Coast line in the 1970's and where the Valley people would defend for their annual holidays.
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I again connected with his old photographs and enjoyed viewing them immensely. I have recently won a competition for Welsh Sea Scapes, where I had to capture 5 images of the welsh coast line potentially to use in a tourism advert to encourage tourists to Wales.
Gaunt's images were very raw of Porthcawl and Barry Island coast and lets say did not have the same encouraging effect.
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I bought his book 'Images of Wales' - from a decade of change The 1970s
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The images are an excellent photo essay and documentary piece of work.
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Gaunt documented industrial structures and buildings around Wales.
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This image to the right (excuse the Photo of a photo) but it is of persons viewing out over Cardiff Docks through a window in the National Industrial and Maritime Museum. Which was demolished, this was a historic building and one of many that we have lost. For reasons that they are too expensive to run, maintain and the prospect of converting into domestic penthouse style accommodation!.
I am quite passionate about Architecture and enjoy viewing old images of buildings. To learn of them demolished saddens me. In particular I like Victorian architecture, which we see a lot of in Cardiff City Centre.
This exhibitions inspired me to document buildings in and around Cardiff for my photo essay I have chosen to document Architecture, new and old to compare old beauty compared with new, efficient, modern architecture.
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The image top right is a image of a head stone with names of orphaned children that died at a Orphanage in Liverpool.
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26 children aged from 7 to 18 years are listed as having died between 26th May 1844 and 27th October 1859.
The Image far left taken through a window on a cold, rainy, damp day. It take me back to memories of Sunday afternoons at my Nan's house. The image brings me feelings of nostalgia.
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I have noticed throughout Gaunt's collection that he frequently takes an image through a window, which I like and works very well. It takes me back to a viewing place.
A digital newspaper clipping from Wales Online reporting of the plans to demolish in the late 90s.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/shops-replace-ships-as-maritime-history-goes-west-1162369.html
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SHE survived the Second World War, hauling convoy ships that had outrun the U-boats into port, and ended her days in a museum. But now the former Empire Ash, one of Britain's last coal-fired steam tugs, and the other exhibits at the Welsh Maritime and Industrial Museum are losing their home to a shopping centre.
The doors of the museum in Cardiff's dockland were closed yesterday after its controversial sale for an estimated pounds 7.5m. The priceless collection from Wales's industrial past will now be stored or loaned to other centres. But the tug, since renamed the Sea Alarm, will not be relocated, only her engines will be kept: her rusting hull will be scrapped.
The closure of the museum - whose role was to record Wales's industrial heritage - to make way for a development of shops in Cardiff Bay, has been fiercely opposed, and the National Museum of Wales is still looking for a new home.
Rhodri Morgan, Labour MP for Cardiff West and one of the strongest opponents of closure, goes further: "It is an unbelievable scandal.
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