subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 7 March 2020 11
ArpitaShah: Nalini
Runsuntil 28 March, Impressions Gallery,
Bradford.Open Tuesday-Thursday 10am-6pm,
Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Entry free.
NALINIexploresthe connected histories of Arpita
Shah’smother,her grandmother and the
photographerherself through a set of thought-
provokingimages. The project is a personal journey
forShah,whichhas allowed her to reconnect with
herownpastthrough her maternal lineage and
explorehowmigration, distance and loss have
shapedtheirlives.
Shahlivesin Scotland, but was born in India and
grewupin SaudiArabia and Ireland. The photographic
projectledherto discover previously forgotten old
familyphotographs. The exhibition’s title, Nalini, is
namedafterShah’s grandmother, but also has a
doublemeaningas the name comes from the ancient
Sanskritmeaning ‘lotus’. This iconic plant symbolises
purity,femininityand fertility in Hindu culture.
Thisis a showwhich is well worth a visit if you’re in
themidstof carrying out your own personal project –
it highlightsthatyou can fi nd projects in the closest of
quarters.AmyDavies© PIETER HUGO
Pockets of resistance are captured by Wallace
Pieter Hugo:
La Cucaracha
Runs until
14 March,
Huxley-Parlour
Gallery, London.
Open Monday-
Saturday
10am-5.30pm.
Entry free.
THERE’S not too long
left to see an exhibition
of new photographs by
South African photographer Pieter Hugo, which
explore death, sexuality and spirituality in Mexico. The
show is the fi rst time the images have been displayed
in the UK. This body of work is a result of four visits to
Mexico over a two-year period. During the trips, Hugo
travelled to the industrialised zone of Mexico City, the
desert of Hermosillo and the mountainous regions of
Ixtepec and San Cristobel.
Fromthecollection, the images display a mixture
of individualportraits, vibrant and visceral
landscapes,interior studies and still lifes. The series
reflectsona number of themes, including how
historyandenvironment can shape a culture and
thoselivingwithin it.
Deservingof a visit if you like travel, portraiture and
landscapephotography – it’s also a good example of
howa long-term, focused project can result in a
strongsetof images. Amy DaviesALL PICTURES © DOUGIE WALL ACE
Also out now
The latest exhibitions from the
worldofphotographyEXHIBITION
your own mind up from the images
displayed across this spread. Personally,
I found myself wanting to dislike the work
for its brashness, but being increasingly
drawn in as the book went on. Sensitive
and subdued, this isn’t, but nobody can
accuse of it being ordinary or pedestrian.
Throughout the book there’s very little
offered in the way of context. With no
captions, you’ll have to invent your own
narrative as to exactly what each image
portrays, while street signs appear in
some to give you a geographical clue.
Wallace has spent the past 20 years
photographing East London, bearing
witness to increasing gentrifi cation in the
area. Yet, within these pages, you’ll still
fi nd evidence of little pockets of defi ance
- the cheeky protests, climate change
resistance and the people who arrived
long before the likes of Gucci turned up
with their Instagram-friendly murals to
attract the rich kids and hipsters.
At the end of the book you’ll fi nd an
essay by Paul Lowe, which gives you some
background into the history of the area. At
the end of the piece, Lowe describes
Wallace as ‘our modern Hogarth’. The
18th-century English painter and
printmaker was well known for his satirical
cartoons – which gives you an idea,
perhaps, of Wallace’s underlying intentions
when he sets out to create his images.
This isn’t a book that is as easy to
universally recommend as some that pass
through the AP offi ces, but it’s certainly
one that stands out. If you like your street
photography with a side order of subtle,
this isn’t for you, but if you like it in
your face it’s worth a look.‘If you like your street
photography with a
side order of subtle,
this isn’t for you, but if
you like it in your face
it’s worth a look’
Bright, bold and brash are the hallmarks of this book
EXHIBITION