Capturing London Through Lenses: Perspectives of Four Photographers on the City's Scape
Rewritten Article:
Step into the artistic vision of London through the eyes of four photographers, commissioned by FT Weekend Magazine's director, Emma Bowkett. This year, these artists show us their unique perspectives on the city. At Photo London's 10th anniversary exhibition, "London Lives," you'll find works from Heather Agyepong, Hannah Hughes, and Jermaine Francis. Additionally, Lucia Pizzani's work will be showcased as part of a solo booth presentation at the event.
Lucia Pizzani
During the pandemic, South London's green spaces like Dulwich Woods, Brockwell Park, and Tooting Common provided solace for many locals, offering a sanctuary from the chaos. It was during this time that Pizzani began working on her collages, themed around Acorazada (Armoured). The idea behind these creations is nature as a refuge, protecting us from diseases, acting as a barrier that absorbs viruses and shelters diverse species.
The works presented here focus on two prominent plants native to these habitats: oaks and ferns. Both plants are ancient species with a rich history and connection to regional folklore. The pieces, titled "Verde London, Naciente and Creciente," meaning "Born and Growing" in Spanish, depict a human figure who has merged with the trees and plants. For Pizzani, her migration from Caracas to London mirrors the transformation of a being that takes root and adapts, with nature as an endless guiding force.
Lucia Pizzani's FT commission will be shown as part of "Of Roots and Vessels" at Victoria Law Projects, Photo London
Hannah Hughes
Sir John Soane's museum in Lincoln's Inn Fields offers a glimpse into a different kind of city, one that lies within its walls. Inside, the museum houses an arrangement of archaeological fragments, plaster casts, and models that Soane referred to as "studies for my own mind."
Hughes chose the museum for her FT commission as an opportunity to respond to Soane's prompt, suggesting that the city outside could be reflected differently from within the house. She returned to the museum to expand on the speculative processes of making in her studio and discover how material evidence of the past could generate new forms in the present.
By focusing on the least tangible spaces within the museum and identifying shapes from the empty areas between fragments, Hughes created negative spaces in clay and polished brass. Assembled and photographed in dialogue with the objects in the collection, these empty spaces have become solid to offer new material encounters.
Hannah Hughes's FT commission will be displayed in Photo London's "London Lives" exhibition
Heather Agyepong
Burnout can bring even the toughest to their knees, but for Heather Agyepong, it presented an opportunity to find solace. After a challenging yet fulfilling year, she found herself in need of a spiritual retreat but unable to afford a getaway abroad. A quick online search led her to The Royal Foundation of St Katharine in Limehouse, where she discovered a deep peace and comfort she had never felt in London before.
The chapel at the foundation was Agyepong's favorite destination during her stay. At its center stood a large compass, which they used to set up meditative activities. The experience left her with a sense of peace and comfort she had never before experienced in London.
Heather Agyepong's work is part of the "London Lives" exhibition at Photo London
Jermaine Francis
Time's relentless march can leave one contemplating one's own mortality. Such thoughts may have led Jermaine Francis to embrace photography as a means of exploring temporal complexities. He sees photography's unstable property as a tool to induce a time-travel-like state, allowing him to delve into the past and envision the future.
Born in a working-class town in the post-industrial region of the Black Country in the West Midlands, Francis found a new home in London. A city that both shaped and defined him. In his works, he captures spaces in London where narratives from different eras intertwine, in lands connected to people across the globe.
In these images, Francis creates a multi-layered, sensory kaleidoscope that reveals the complexities of history. With these works, he strives to push beyond our comfort zones and embrace the potential of openness, bringing non-pluralistic narratives to the fore and illuminating the untold stories that have been forgotten over time.
Jermaine Francis's FT commission will be displayed in Photo London's "London Lives" exhibition
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Enrichment Data:- Themes: Ancient materials, botanical forms, roots, vessels, heritage, nature, transformation, and immersive experiences.- Media: Photography, installation, performance, and sculpture.- Artists: Lucia Pizzani, known for her works emphasizing elemental and organic aspects of roots and vessels as symbolic forms; Hannah Hughes, who explores the connection between past and present through archaeological fragments and models; Heather Agyepong, renowned for her meditative practices and spiritual explorations; and Jermaine Francis, known for his multi-layered, sensory kaleidoscope images that reveal complexities of history and untold stories.- Exhibition context: Presented by Victoria Law Projects at Photo London's 10th anniversary fair, with a focus on contemporary artistic dialogue revolving around natural and cultural motifs.
- Lucia Pizzani's FT commission, focused on 'nature as a refuge', explores the theme of roots and vessels, showcasing her works at 'Of Roots and Vessels' in Victoria Law Projects during Photo London.
- Hannah Hughes utilizes archaeological fragments and models to provoke thoughts about the connection between the past and present, displaying her works within the 'London Lives' exhibition at Photo London.
- Jermaine Francis's FT commission delves into the complexities of history, creating multi-layered sensory images for the 'London Lives' exhibition at Photo London, emphasizing the importance of openness and non-pluralistic narratives.
The artistic dialogue revolving around natural and cultural motifs is on display at Photo London's 10th anniversary fair.
