The Photographers’ Gallery

2014_0316PhotographersGallery
The Photographers’ Gallery

The Photographers’ Gallery is not somewhere I’d ever thought of visiting, but I had some spare time one Sunday afternoon so decided to pay it a visit. The Gallery is centrally located, just off Oxford Street, and entry is only £2.50 for National Art Pass holders (£4 full price). It has a camera obscura, a studio floor, a shop and café, and has a rotating programme of exhibitions. When I visited, the Gallery was host to exhibitions by Andy Warhol, David Lynch and William S. Burroughs.

David Lynch: The Factory Photographs

I started at the top of the building, so David Lynch’s photographs were the first I saw. These were definitely my favourites: I loved the cinematic, almost noir-like quality of the images. Of course Lynch is a well-known filmmaker: although I have to admit I have never seen any of his films, there was a clear cinematic influence on these images. They were largely pictures of factories and abandoned industrial sites, and had a brooding and bleak atmosphere, almost Romantic in the impression they gave of decay and a bygone era.

Taking Shots: William S. Burroughs

Burroughs was an influential 20th century American writer, but much less well known as a photographer. This year marks the centenary of his birth, and the Gallery is therefore hosting an exhibition of his work. They were interesting images, varied and vivid, which told stories of Burroughs’ journeys.

Andy Warhol: Photographs 1976-1987

Warhol is famous as an artist, but his photographs are less well known. I recognised his distinctive artistic style in many of the images, which incorporated brands and celebrities. I particularly liked the ‘stitched’ photographs, combining the easily reproduced photograph and the unique nature of the stitching.

What all three photographers had in common was that photography was not their primary field. I thought that this made their photographs more interesting in many ways, as their other interests influenced their photographic work.

These exhibitions have now finished, but the Gallery has an interesting programme of events coming up, so do check it out.

FACTS

Address: 16-18 Ramillies Street, Soho, London, W1F 7LW

Website: thephotographersgallery.org.uk

Opening Hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, 11am-6pm Sun, late opening Thursdays during exhibitions

Prices: Vary depending on exhibition(s)