Latest exhibition
Details
Photographs by John Davies
Exhibition Opens 9th November
Exhibition Closes 26th March
Dates for Your Diary
Wakefield's Artwalk: 27th January 17:00 - 21:00
Talk by John Davies: 4th February 2010, 18:30 - 20:00.
Reserve your free place by e-mailing ann@beam.uk.net or phone 01924 215550
About the Exhibition
Like many other urban areas across the UK, the city of Wakefield is currently undergoing a significant process of physical change, as plans for major regeneration and development initiatives are set to significantly alter its urban fabric. Old sites, routes, and landmarks disappear to make way for the new - but the future form and its effects are not yet clear.
This exhibition, commissioned by Beam from leading landscape photographer John Davies, focuses on this state of ‘in between’.
John Davies is one of today's most outstanding British photographers. Through his landscape work he is interested in telling visual stories about process, change and transformation, and spent his formative years in both coal mining and farming communities.
For over two decades - in the UK, Europe, and elsewhere, he has explored a wide variety of urban, industrial and rural landscapes, which through his work can be understood as economic, political and cultural environments. Although he maintains an apparently cool and objective stance in his documentary work, a theme that has become increasingly important to him is to question as well as celebrate our collective responsibility in shaping the environments in which we live.
Over the past twelve months John has created a unique body of work which documents the changing nature of the city centre and the evolving urban landscapes of Wakefield’s Waterfront, Trinity Walk and Merchant Gate developments. This powerful selection of images portrays a city in transition.
Robert Powell, Executive Director of Beam, says: “It occurred to us some time ago that it was important to cast an artist’s eye on the phenomenal changes in Wakefield, which exemplify what’s going on --- despite the Recession --- in many of the UK’s towns and cities. We are delighted to have been able to commission a photographer of John Davies’s experience and reputation to take on the task. The result is powerful and informative.”
Beam gallery is open Mon - Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm
