Siân Davey’s pictures gives a window into the advanced nature of household, id, and group – an exploration formed by her journey from psychotherapist to photographer. Now, with The Artistic Physique: Pictures 2014 – 2024, the Martin Parr Basis presents a complete exhibition of her intimate photographic follow.
The brand new exhibition marks the primary main survey of labor by British photographer Siân Davey. From 16 January to 23 March 2025, the exhibition gives guests a possibility to expertise a decade of Davey’s intimate and insightful pictures, that includes key sequence together with Searching for Alice, Martha, The Backyard and Communion.
The exhibition will present insights into the variety of her strategy to portraiture and her means to seize human connection.
Earlier than turning to pictures, Davey spent 15 years working in psychotherapy. This background in psychological well being has deeply knowledgeable her strategy to image-making and the themes she chooses to analyze.
Davey’s pictures replicate the depth of human emotion, capturing intimate moments that reveal the challenges of relationships, id, and self-expression. This background strongly fosters empathy in her work, forging a connection between the artist and the topic that resonates deeply with viewers.
“As a psychotherapist, I’ve listened to many tales.” says Davey. “It’s fascinating that what has been revealed to me after 15 years of follow shouldn’t be how completely different we’re to at least one one other however quite how alike we’re. It’s what we share that’s vital. The tales fluctuate however all of us share the identical feelings, we’re all susceptible to emotions of anger, grief, despair and so forth.”
On the coronary heart of Davey’s exhibition are two of her most private and well-known sequence’ – Searching for Alice (2013-2018) and Martha (2015-2016) – each an intimate exploration of household life.
Searching for Alice centered round her daughter Alice, who was born with Down’s Syndrome. By means of this sequence, Davey chronicles Alice’s progress and her emotional experiences of elevating a baby with particular wants. The work is a poignant reflection of the challenges and joys that include parenting, exploring the common dynamics of affection, care, and wrestle inside the household house.
In distinction, Martha focuses on Davey’s stepdaughter throughout her transition from adolescence to maturity. The sequence started after Martha, feeling overshadowed by the eye her mom was giving Alice, requested Davey why she not photographed her. This easy query sparked a two-year challenge that captures Martha navigating the complexities of teenage id and the evolving relationship between stepmother and daughter.
One other vital challenge on show is The Backyard (2021-2023), a sequence that explores group and human connection by way of the metaphor of a backyard.
The challenge, which has been on show at The Photographers’ Gallery, incorporates a numerous vary of people, from households to strangers, capturing moments of vulnerability, pleasure and connection. As well as, lesser-known and ongoing works may also be on show, signifying the primary time many of those photographs shall be proven publically.
Talking on the impression of Davey’s work, legendary Magnum photographer Martin Parr states, “Siân Davey has emerged as one of many pioneering feminine voices in British pictures. We’re delighted to stage this survey present, enabling the viewer to pattern the important thing photographs from her three main tasks, and extra apart from.”
The Artistic Physique: Pictures 2014 – 2024 will go on show on the Martin Parr Basis in Bristol, UK from January 16 – March 23 2025 – a incredible begin to what guarantees to be a beautiful yr of pictures.
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