Action Photographs: Uncertain Subjects Part II, III and IV (2018-2019) Introduction
Uncertain Subjects Part II, Part III and Part IV explored new forms of materialising and temporalizing photographic practice by, for the first time, bringing together the material encounter of photographic images in the shape of ‘action photographs’ with a series of live billboard performances in the public realm. It subverted the tools used by the public leave campaign, deploying the language of advertising to reconsider established positions surrounding identity, nationhood and democracy.
Infiltrating the public sphere first in London, then in Brighton and Newcastle, a single billboard site was constantly covered and recovered with new billboard images in a continuous live-performance. The work consciously employs the traditional 12-sheet paper poster, where twelve sections of an image are skilfully tiled together by a billboard worker to form a continuous whole. Using this labour intensive process performatively, here each photographic portrait with a thick layer of silenced
positions at the conclusion of the performance. Set against the background of the ubiquitous encounter of networked images and their immediacy, these action photographs expand the medium through the production and performance of the photograph as a live event in the public realm, re-configuring the encounter with the photographic image into both a time-based and a material experience.
Each subject was photographed in their home environment with bare shoulders. As with the mail-art project, each of the billboards included a head and shoulder photograph of the subject, their name, profession, number of children, with the addition of a personal statement that represented their position in respect of the current political situation. In this sense the work started to bear testimony to a country that is undergoing fundamental ideological and demographic changes.
Please follow the link below to view video of performance:
Part II : Art Night Open, London
Where and How: Uncertain Subjects Part II was performed as Part of the Art Night Open, London, 2018. The billboard, 4 meters above ground level, was positioned next to the Leak Street Tunnel in Central London. A team of helpers each dressed in Uncertain Subject overalls were performing the work, most notably the billboard plasterer shifting and moving a six-meter tall wooden ladder.
The Subjects: Expanding on Uncertain Subjects Part I and in recognition of the fact that the consequences of leaving the European Union would be experienced just as much by British nationals as by European citizens resident in the UK, Uncertain Subjects Part II opened up to include those 48.3% who had not supported the leave vote.It gave a voice to those who felt like they had become alienated within their own country, irrespective of their citizenship, and for those who in the immediate aftermath of the referendum felt as if they had no representation in parliament; A representation denied to them under the guise of democracy. Many of the people included in this series had decided to leave the UK because of the new nationalist sentiment and inward looking positions that came to the surface through the referendum result and the nationalist and protectionist sentiment they represented.
Part III : Brighton Photo Biennial
Where and How: Uncertain Subjects Part III was exhibited on Jubilee Square as part of the Brighton Photo Biennial in 2018, with five live ‘action photograph’ performances taking shape over the biennial’s month long duration. In this incarnation of the work the performance physically extended into the public space on the side of a shipping container, in reference to issues related to migration and freedom of movement. Subsequently, the installation and removal of the shipping container became an integral part of the work
Subjects: Growing in scope with every incarnation this new performance, in addition to the European nationals represented as part of Uncertain Subjects Part I and the remain-voting British Citizens included in Uncertain Subjects Part II, this new body of work included a new group of contributors: those that voted to leave the EU and had changed their mind since the referendum. The work gave a voice to those who feel they have been silenced by the failing democratic processes. It brought a personal lived experience back into the conversations surrounding Brexit
Part IV : Grainger Market, Newcastle
Uncertain Subjects stage IV was staged at the Grainger Market in Newcastle upon Tyne with the support of Newcastle City Council and Build Hollywood. The Grainger market is in the Centre of town and mostly sells local produce, fruit and vegetables, meats, fish and groceries as well as a diversity of homeware and clothing.
Subjects: This series responded specifically to the the demographics of Newcastle upon Tyne, where in the surrounding area between 60 and 70% of the population voted to leave. It included predominantly newcastle based subjects, including some of the people who worked in the market, people I met at the Byker Community centre and at Skimmstone to whom I was introduced through the City Councils engagement officer as well as people who responded to a call out.
Please follow the link below to view the performance