Very welcome news from Northumberland: Mik Critchlow's work is to be held at the Woodhorn Museum. Over the course of more than four decades, the photographer documented life in the coalfield community that he and his family called home, chronicling in particular the changes brought about (and devastation wreaked) by pit closures. The long-running project culminated in the wonderful Coal Town exhibition at the Museum in 2021, two years before his death. I can't wait to visit the new permanent exhibition, which opens in May.
On a related note, hats off to Sam Fender for giving the pictures of another North Eastern photographer greater exposure. His latest record People Watching features images taken by Tish Murtha, who he described as an "absolute legend": "It's an honour to be able to use her art to help tell the story of the album." As ever, though, it's bittersweet - Murtha having not lived long enough to witness her work finding its rightful acclaim.
3 comments:
Here we go again!
You still don’t get it, do you?
This is not “rightful acclaim.” It is taking her work out of context and using it for illustration/design purposes.
Tish Murtha was always fiercely protective of her work and of the people she photographed and would not allow her work to be taken out of context, commercialised, or exploited. Famously, she wouldn’t allow it anywhere near the internet.
She would never ignore the responsibility she felt towards the people she photographed or their trust in her not to exploit that relationship. Of course, this important point is completely missing from the film, ‘Tish’.
This is basic stuff, Ben. Photographers have always had to grapple with this issue, but it particularly applied to Tish Murtha and her concerns and circumstances.
Hopefully, one day, some responsible person will write a proper biography of Tish Murtha, and then the really important issues that concerned her will be highlighted and discussed…intelligently.
Wake up and get a grip!!
"hats off to Sam Fender for giving the pictures of another North Eastern photographer greater exposure..."
…Sam Fender…People Watching…St. James’ Park…Tish Murtha…Manahel al-Otaibi…Loujain al-Hathloul…Shalma al-Shebab…Tish Murtha?
What exactly makes you think you know better about what she would want than her own daughter and family, or indeed anyone else involved in the making of the film who knew her personally? Take your obnoxious pomposity elsewhere.
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