Cross Channel Photography
Two photographers who have explored both sides of the English Channel will exhibit at Worthing Museum & Art Gallery in July.
In 'On The Waterfront', Justin Sainsbury explores the South Coast's colourful, seaside pleasures, while Rob Silverstone has photographed industrial waterfronts in Normandy. Justin Sainsbury was inspired by the exhibition ‘The Shipping Forecast’ by Magnum photographer Mark Power, and began to photograph seriously four years ago.
He has developed his current body of work and the exhibition ‘Front', which he has exhibited at Worthing's Flash Bang Gallery and Brighton's Claremont. In the true street photography traditions, 'Front' captures characters and relationships on the prom of seaside towns.
''The challenge is to make an essentially ordinary situation stand out. I prefer an intuitive response in capturing these moments and will often look to fill the frame with lots of stories,” says Justin, “and a picture works for me if it produces some mystery or a degree of ambiguity''.
And while Rob is very familiar with the Sussex seaside, after having a restaurant under the arches on Brighton beach, he has photographed his new home in Normandy. Rob moved there to open a little restaurant on the medieval Rue Eau du Robec, and the gothic architecture of the city inspired an interest in black and white photography.
He has exhibited at the Brighton Fishermans Gallery, the 'Photofolies' biennial in the Loire, and the 'Old Market' in Brighton. His most recent exhibition, which traced the construction of the largest rising bridge in Europe, was at the Musée Maritime on the banks of the Seine, in the winter of 2008. For this new exhibition, he has photographed Shoreham and Rouen docks.
Both artists will have books to accompany the exhibition. 'On the Waterfront' takes place from 4th July - 12th September, in the Studio at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery.
More: