As an artist I often find that I see things differently – or should I rephrase that – other people tell me that I see things differently. I take a situation and I can capture it in my mind as a series of images that when brought together tell a story.
My latest solo exhibition, ‘Of our times: the price of money’, which took place at the Ropewalk in Barton-upon-Humber from 17 January to 1 March, was the catalyst to a change in my life that not only saved my sanity but also my marriage.
A series of 40 separate images tells the tale of a businessman in pursuit of success and fortune. What he doesn’t realise is that whilst he is fending off work based politics, office back stabbing and the complexities of striving to be the very best his family are nothing more than a shadow in the background.
The Exhibition does in part have an autobiographical element to it and I think this, as well as my love of art and photography, is why I was so adamant I needed to get it just right. Months, days and hours of work went into each image, and it was as much about what is not included as what features in each shot.
I like to keep the audience guessing, to give people things to look out for and teasers to the next cleverly staged image. There is always a theme to my work – not always as obvious as this one, but there is usually a consistent message and set of questions none-the-less.
With these pieces, as they were created for the photobook which subsequently led to me becoming a Contemporary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, there is a framed explanation aside each; most of the images are in pairs. This puts each shot into context and explains the theory behind the often uncomfortable picture so that the audience can follow the story from start to finish.
I had some amazing feedback from the Exhibition and am so pleased with the questions and discussions that it evoked. I get a real sense of achievement and accomplishment when people start to deliberate over the shots and what they mean to them. Many people have come away from this particular series and said that it was ‘a little too close to home’.
In a world where we cannot put down our mobile phones, we reach for the bottle to relax and we argue that our family come first – despite cancelling yet another night out because we just have to finish this report – I feel that I have hit somewhat of a raw nerve.
I’m not for one second going to suggest that my work has led to me having the perfect work-life balance but what it has done is made me stop and think and it has given me the shake that I so clearly needed.
I only hope that it has done the same for some of those who visited the Exhibition and that they realise the cost of what is lost in the pursuit of fortune. There are often things that you just cannot get back however hard you strive and those things, unfortunately, are priceless.
The Book can be viewed here: http://issuu.com/royalphotographicsociety/docs/of_our_times_-_the_price_of_money_-_final_lr_proof