Small is Beautiful? Visual and Material Cultures of Making and Mending
–
This AHRC research project (nicely listed under Visual Arts, Photography, Cultural Geography), aims to 'create a record of the material culture of workplaces that are particularly vulnerable to economic insolvency, places where the making or mending of material objects forms the core activity (such as shoe, clock and electrical appliance repair workshops, tailors and seamstresses, analogue photography studios and locksmiths). The intention is to represent the character and aesthetic quality of the material culture in these spaces, rather than to produce a comprehensive visual survey'.
It was inspired by the end of my old family business, Thompson Brothers Ltd, which was one of the oldest Ironmongers in the country. It closed for good in 2008. Photographing those last few months led to a need to do something to mark it, and to celebrate places like Thompsons. When I met Caitlin DeSilvey, who works in the Geography Department of University of Exeter, and we found we had a mutual passion for the subject, SIB was born and the project proper should begin in Sept 2010. Alongside us will be Dr James Ryan, who also works in UOE's Geography Department.
Early photography matter has included the aforementioned Thompson Brothers Ironmongers, which was in Somerset, and Speller's Cobblers shop, which was near Redruth in Cornwall. Click on the titles in the menu to see more.
–
