Ways Of Looking A New Photography Festival In Bradford
1 to 30 October 2011 - ‘Ways of Looking’, a new festival of photography in Bradford opens on 1st October 2011. Exploring the theme EVIDENCE, the festival includes premières of newly commissioned works by internationally renowned Magnum photographer Donovan Wylie, and Turner Prize winning artists Douglas Gordon and Jeremy Deller.
Inspired by the theme EVIDENCE, the festival will address, overturn, and playfully interact with photography’s assumed status as ‘evidence’ in a range of arenas including history, politics, science, law, and conflict. In contrast to other photography festivals, ‘Ways of Looking’ does not advocate a lead curator, but instead offers multiple curatorial approaches ranging from museum institutions to grass-roots collectives. Many of the works have been specially commissioned for the festival and will be shown for the first time in Bradford.
Highlights include Douglas Gordon’s large-scale window installation taking inspiration from the former glories of Bradford’s iconic Gaumont cinema, and Jeremy Deller’s personal take on Bradford’s civic photography collection. Photography’s relationship to surveillance is explored by Donovan Wylie, who travelled to Afghanistan to document military watchtowers, whilst Simon Ford and Colin Lloyd have drawn on CCTV technology and scientific imaging techniques to examine the validity of optical evidence. Red Saunders’ epic photographic tableaux vivants recreate momentous but overlooked events from Britain’s struggle for democracy, whilst Alan Dunn investigates the archive of West Yorkshire Police to re-examine crime photographs from the 1950s.
Based entirely in Bradford’s compact city centre, with its wealth of dramatic nineteenth century architecture, the whole festival can be easily accessed by visitors. As well as museum and gallery venues, photography will be on display in public spaces and on billboards, whilst a specially commissioned interactive digital game will transport participants on an intriguing journey through the spaces and histories of ‘hidden’ Bradford.
An accompanying events programme will offer talks by photographers, portfolio reviews, and film screenings. Unmissible events include a series of debates ‘Photography on Trial’ at City Hall’s spectacular Victorian Court Room, and a major conference ‘Media and Conflict Interchange’ at the National Media Museum.
Anne McNeill, Director of Impressions Gallery and co-founder, said ‘Ways of Looking is a boutique festival – small but considered. We believe it has the potential to grow to become a key biennial on the international circuit of photography festivals’.
Nicola Stephenson, Director of The Culture Company and co-founder, said ‘a bit like Berlin, Bradford is edgy, post-industrial, and home to some fantastic art spaces. Its cosmopolitan and diverse population make it a great destination for festival goers’.
Colin Philpott, Director of National Media Museum, said ‘Ways of Looking draws on Bradford’s amazing wealth of photographic activity and world-class collections. It epitomises Bradford’s renaissance as a cultural centre, and perfectly complements its new status as the world’s first UNESCO City of Film’.
‘Ways of Looking’ is organised by Impressions Gallery, National Media Museum, and The Culture Company, with partners Bradford Grid, Bradford Museums and Galleries, Fabric, Gallery II University of Bradford, and Leeds Metropolitan University Gallery and Studio Theatre. The festival is funded by Arts Council England through the National Lottery Fund and supported by Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
