Day 1: North

Over the next week I’ll be posting insight into the North project, research material and install progress in the build up to the exhibition launch evening on Thursday 5th January. We’ve been working with Tony Hornecker to completely transform the gallery spaces. This is part of wall divide for Gallery 2 before being installed.

I first moved to Preston in 2001 to study Photography at the University of Central Lancashire. Living in a relatively small city for nearly 10 years had a strong influence on my relationship with photography and how I want to work with it. My first major project was a zine titled Preston is my Paris that I co-produced with Robert Parkinson. To begin with it was just to encourage more people to take interest in Preston or produce new work about the place. Since these first few photocopied zines the project has developed into a multi-facted body of work and with hindsight was the starting point of my interest in the regional identity of northern England. http://prestonismyparis.co.uk/

River Ribble running through Avenham Park and Saint Wilfrids Church

The top image is a scan from Issue 4 of Preston is my Paris featuring early images taken in Preston by Jamie Hawkesworth. The image of the shop on Plungington Road was then used as part of the J.W.Anderson collection for Topshop in 2012

Two editorials that we first identified as explicitly referencing Northern England feature the model Agyness Deyn who grew up in Rawtenstall, Lancashire - a fact that was mentioned a lot in media at the time. These two shoots both feature as the original magazines in the exhibition and each make reference to a number of the reocurring tropes that Lou and I have identified. Angel of the North, Photography - Tim Walker, Fashion Editor - Kate Phelan, British Vogue, August 2008 Origins: Oh Manchester, so much to answer for, Photography - Alasdair McLellan, Styling - Francesca Burns and Kim Jones, i-D, May 2008