Delayed and delayed again, but better late than never – this happened. Irony in the weather contrast, it was frosty cold when the exhibition opening took place and I am typing this 30+
OUR BIG PICTURE presents
THROUGH OUR EYES EXHIBITION
A photographic exhibition showcasing work by six emerging women photographers from North East Lincolnshire and the Humber Region
Curated by emerging producer and photographer Abbie Jennings
The exhibition displays work that explores themes around identity, gender and perspectives of the world. The exhibitions aims to challenge perceptions, encourage conversation and celebrate diversity in photography.
The official part above and now the tales of what went on
Back in December 2022 I received a surprise email from an unknown person, who turns out a fantastic young lady, who gets me on many creative levels and almost is like my sister from another mister. Abbie invited me to be part of the regional women-only exhibition and future collaborations.
It happened at the time where I was very busy with photography that wasn’t my own practice, all work was exclusively WORK. After Covid this were weird anyway and my life was upside down different to my old me, so the invitation was exactly what `I needed to spark back into the mode of creating a story, creating meaningful (to me initially) content.
Note that this wasn’t just my experience: further down the line having conversations with other girls that turned to to be the case for some of photographers. The luxury to be creative only and make living is super hard and if you are not in the right circle or time frame, your inner creative dilutes into the world of work.
The part were I had to choose what to exhibit was straight forward: unfinished business in my family-loss related body of work that continued my “End Of Life” series was that thing that was in the top draw. Back in 2021 I created a digital format of the work where I spoke in few words, but exhibiting and continue the discussion with myself and the potential audience was “to be continued”.
It was just the perfect finale for the photographic series and a promising start for new things and people, collaborations and, of course, continuing talking about loss, my Latvian heritage and how the society taboos gives a starting platform for a slightly challenging work.
Couple of weeks prior the exhibition all were invited to visit the space in Grimsby to help set up and meet each other. I am not shy to admit that I am curious being so I went to meet Abbie, Jo and other people involved.
The exhibition space is located in the building that sits in the heart of Grimsby and has so many perks(beautiful flooring) and even though not initially an art gallery, it fits the purpose perfectly.
Upon arrival I fell in love with everything surrounding me: the people, space, glimpses of other photographers work and the best part was to be shown where my work will be exhibited.
I was given a space in the corner on the other side from the main entrance with an old cast iron fire place in the centre. One particular photograph from my selected photographs was taken in a really similar place: same cast iron fireplace, white walls, parquet floor and the sense of old building. The space oddly perfect (explains the wool mittens in the exhibition). How did curator space knew that out of all these six girls, that place is right for me?
It was a good start, good experience to figure out placement and order of the photographs and be involved.
Another part of the tale is my family, my mother. The exhibited work is around my grandads sudden illness and death, and my time in Latvia during. Only now, after over three years I understand that for my mum it was the first close person she lost, her dad. When my grandma past away this winter, it felt like a chapter to close and that chapter is in all of our books.
During university years I heavily explored and photographed the idea of death being an obvious ending and funeral is the end of life celebration. I delved deep into research, I photographed for exploration purposes many areas of the subject around death and end of life and, looked at my own culture, upbringing and ways of how I used camera to tell the story that I saw as the unavoidable. My grandads passing was a test : was I really able to connect or disconnect with death in my own life and capturing that in photographs. I always thought and believed that it would be a tool to help and not “close the emotions” and allow myself to grieve in my own way, through the camera see what else comes with grief, what happens to the persons life after they pass and observe other people. This was my first loss in an adult life and long was the days when my dad dragged me to many village funerals, long ago since my godmothers funeral where I was genuinely sad, but laughed at the pastors horrible singing skills at the funeral service, I basically had no adult skills in dealing with loved ones death. I didn’t know until arrived and told my mum that during this process I will be photographing: from last hospital visit, to funeral arrangements to the actual funeral and, everything that happened to us during those days.
My mums reaction was acceptance. We didn’t discuss it much, but I knew I had her blessing. So for this exhibition it was very important that she came.
My mum was already proud for the fact that I have this opportunity, but I think the reaction and feedback from others, the opening evening itself and photographs exhibited made her even more prouder. It was just nice.
The opening was a success, many people came, the final touches and overall curation work was exceptional, other photographers work was amazing and it was something very special to be part of. My friends from far and wide came, my British family came and I will never forget that evening.
This exhibition was celebrating female photographers from the Humber Region and we did indeed seized the opportunity.
Th best part was the variety and different angles how we each see the world around us. I guess we brought to table the most relevant “its us” topic for this exhibition.
Here they are:
Ellie Coulson
Instagram: elliecoulson_
Web: elliecoulsonphotography.com
Emma Gibbon
Instagram: emmgibb
Jessica Keightley
Instagram: jessicakeightleyphotography
Josephine Banks
Instagram: jsb_photography_
(these photos are from the meet up after the exhibition and Josephine couldn’t make its I don’t have a wacky photo)
Milly Nixon
Instagram: millynixonphotography
Web: millynixonphotography.mypixieset.com
and me:
Since I have revealed the glimpse of our meet up in April, I can tell that we did meet and we did chat (had biscuits and tea granny style).
We were invited to meet and reflect, sit at the round table and build new connections, build small and big plans and just hear each others stories. It was super, super nice and for me personally, it was great to meet new people that are working in the industry and trying to sustain creativity at the same time. Some girls are fresh out of the university and just starting to learn the ways of working, but blimey! how it bought me back to 5 /6 years ago when I was the same. It was valuable to hear the joys, the struggles, the financial side of things, expectations and demands to meet in this complicated world of being photographer.
We built some plans, we connected on WhatsApp to be in a reach of each other and hopefully we will continue to collaborate and build amazing photo stories that fulfil us, and get some new content for our next exhibition.
During the time when the exhibition was open to public I visited couple of times. The time when I visited with my partner,I was not in the best shape(just after a belly/sickness bug-yum),so I was melancholically reflecting on the windowsill after I finished photographing the exhibition for blogging purposes.
The finale: what an opportunity, so much gained, so much thought and I am forever grateful to the OUR BIG PICTURE team.
Thanks for hard work, love and care that went into this.
To the spring chickens: grab these opportunities without a second thought, these will give you confidence, learning platform and you will meet people. I remind myself this regularly. To the old dogs: always go back to creative, even if it’s just a little bit not to forget how and why this journey started.
My own future: lets just see what I can and can’t pull off this year; blog content for 2023 culture is not going that well (time management and lack free time), plans to go back to university pending and well, in-head built plans to do more than just work – always there. But all good.
POST SCRIPTUM: This blog post has been delayed since April, but I also didn’t want to rush it, as I considered this as my post-exhibition appreciation post. I wanted to really try and say the right thing but I my own way.
the 30+ gone down to 26+.
Love
Anete Sooda Photo
ANETE SOODA PHOTO 