Across The North Sea : An Exhibition of Photographs by Fay Godwin with Anna Lilleengen @ Janette Ray Rare Books, curated by Lotte Inch Gallery
The new exhibition curated by Lotte Inch opened on May 17th in a welcome return for those mourning the closure of her temporary Pop-Up gallery of last year.
Across the North Sea is composed of a small collection of photographs which feature original prints from Fay Godwin’s 1979 collaboration with Ted Hughes, Remains of Elmet, which documented the changing landscape of Britain throughout the twentieth century. Godwin’s monochrome prints show an undisturbed English countryside illuminated through the clouds, giving a quiet testimony to our landscapes’ pre-industrial history. She apparently hated being referred to as a Romantic photographer as she considered herself a documentary artist instead, explaining how she was prepared to wait three days to expose the perfect cloud.
Fay Godwwin. Remains of Elmet 5 Photogravure 1979 Copyright Fay Godwin and Hugh Stoneman
Anna Lilleengen, a Harrogate based artist, works in quite the opposite way by taking a selection of up to six photographs when out walking in the woods. That is not to say her work is not labour intensive, for she works with an original Victorian camera from the 1870s. Each negative is hand cut and developed, which shows up in markings on some of the prints. Lilleengen’s delicate pictures are composed from a viewpoint looking up from the undergrowth which catches glimmers of light through expertly chosen points of focus. I could practically feel the twigs cracking beneath my feet.
The intimate setting is a wonderful alternative to the white cube, and you get to browse the tantalising collection of books. A joyous experience all-round.
The exhibition runs until July 6th at Janette Ray Rare Books on Bootham, open Wednesdays to Saturdays 9.30am – 5.30pm.
R.H.
