Exhibitions

John Davies – Urban Dreams

Jan 17 - Feb 29 2004

John Davies is one of Britain’s most outstanding photographers, whose international reputation is firmly established in the field of landscape photography.

During the early 1980’s Davies documented aspects of the industrial and urban landscape of Britain. Until then many British cities were still the nerve centres for industrial activity. During the late 80’s and increasingly in the 90’s many of these metropolitan centres saw significant changes in their economic fortunes with the growth of service industries and a decline in industrial production and loss of population. By the beginning of the 21st century these post-industrial cities had started to re-invent their role and image as centres for knowledge and learning, culture and entertainment. Coupled with this many commercial developers saw substantial opportunities in transforming run-down office and industrial buildings into designer apartment, bars and retail outlets.

Each city has developed strategies to increase its competitive advantage to attract inward investment and commerce. Batteries of urban designers have been employed to create improvements in the public realm, transport and infrastructure of the entire city – with the city centre as the focal point for civic aspiration and commercial gain. In this set of new pictures John Davies uses these changes and developments as a starting point to document and make sense of the modern city.

As with his earlier work – and very much a Davies’ trademark – his point of view is often from a slightly elevated vantage point, giving him a wide skyline and enabling him to fully survey the urban sprawl - or elegance, below.

This exhibition brings together, for the first time, work made in 8 cities in locations across the UK and is one of the most comprehensive photographic surveys of contemporary Britain by a critically acclaimed photographer.

A Ffotogallery touring exhibition.