Familiar British Wildlife

Abstract

Invited participant showing Familiar British Wildlife under a new form of representation in digital format. This exhibition was the first comprehensive survey of British Photographers at Tate Britain. Contributions from 19th.C. include Julia Margaret Cameron, Fox Talbot, early 20th. Century, Craig Annan, Emerson through to late 20th. Century, Martin Parr, Paul Graham. Curated by Val Williams.

Contemporary photographers have moved around a 'strange' country observing, collecting and making fictions from facts or sometimes facts from fictions. Their views are enigmatic – as the old uncertainties about the objectivity of photography have disappeared. In the past two decades photographing Britain has been a complex endeavour involving the telling of stories and the contradictory nature of life on this small island. These photographers, and their narratives, provide a view of Britain, its people, its landscape, its obsessions and its crises.

My work has concerned itself with the sometimes complex relationship we as humans have with the natural world of animals. Making work which stands outside of the mainstream representation of animal depiction, it attempts to create a dialogue through the work which also challenges our common held belief of how wildlife should be shown within a public domain and so extends the historical debate of representation, but within a contemporary framework. 'Familiar British Wildlife' attempts to question the environment and the impact we have on wildlife through our increasing expansion of communication networks as one of the symbols of dominion we express on a world wide basis.