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Simon Roberts
We English, an exhibition by critically acclaimed photographer Simon Roberts will appear at the Museum of Croydon from Thursday 18th November 2010 – 26th February 2011. The images are the result of a road trip looking at the kinds of activities we take part in outdoors and how they reflect our national identity. Simon was born in Croydon so it’s fitting that this is the first London venue for the show. In recognition of his home town Simon has produced
a specific Croydon image especially for the exhibition. The major photography exhibition is the result of an English road trip in search of national identity and people at leisure. The Museum of Croydon is the first London-based venue to exhibit the works. 29 of Simon’s images will be on display, including a newly commissioned photograph of this summer’s Croydon festival, taking its inspiration from George Hawkins’ 1833 painting ‘Croydon Fair’. During 2007 – 08 Simon Roberts travelled the length and breadth of England with his family in a motor home, photographing people playing, relaxing and revelling in the country’s richly varied landscape. Gathered together as We English, his works are an intriguing and lyrical, personal exploration of the nation. Simon’s project reflects the strong heritage of British landscape and documentary photography. Laura Williams, Exhibitions Manager at the Museum of Croydon said: “We are delighted to be the first London venue to be showing Simon’s ‘We English’ collection.
The photographs are beautiful and at the same time thought-provoking. It is also very special to have a Croydon specific shot.” The photographs, which feature locations across the country, rejoice in their subjects, showing a fantastic level of detail across expanses of terrain and the collective activities taking place. Simon said: “Looking at the activities we partake in outdoors struck me as a thought-provoking way of exploring England’s shifting cultural and national identity. They seem to say much more about who we are than, for instance, what we do in the
workplace. And landscape is an intrinsic part of these experiences. I was interested in the way that we transform the
English landscape, how we utilise, consume and enjoy it.” Critically acclaimed, Simon’s photographs have been exhibited widely with recent shows at the National Media Museum, UK and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai. They are represented in major public and private collections, including the Deutsche Börse Art Collection, George Eastman House and Wilson Centre for Photography. This year Simon was the first photographer to be appointed as Official Election Artist for the General Election in May. About ‘We English’, Simon says “I am delighted to finally have an exhibition of my work in the city of my birth.” The exhibition is accompanied by a range of images from Croydon’s Local Studies Library and Archives Services, depicting Croydon at leisure from the last 70 years. These will be on display in the Clocktower Café.
www.museumofcroydon.com
www.we-english.co.uk
www.simoncroberts.com
A monograph of We English was published by Chris Boot in
September 2009. www.chrisboot.com
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Treasures from the Trash ExhibitionWe English, an exhibition by critically acclaimed photographer Simon Roberts will appear at the Museum of Croydon from Thursday 18th November 2010 – 26th February 2011. The images are the result of a road trip looking at the kinds of activities we take part in outdoors and how they reflect our national identity. Simon was [...]