Kazem Hakimi & Henry Underhill

This temporary exhibition at the Museum of Oxford brings together portraits of Oxford citizens, taken about a century apart.

Henry Underhill, a grocer with a shop on the High Street in the late 19th/early 20th century, took striking photographic portraits of his friends and family in their moments of leisure. Some 100 years later, Kazem Hakimi, owner of the well-loved chip shop on Iffley Road, takes similarly candid photos of his customers, quickly capturing them as they’re waiting for their order.

The photos are exhibited side by side. The selection was made by Mr Hakimi and the Museum staff, and is mostly based on perceived similarities, for example in composition, facial expression, or fashion accessories.

We invite visitors to try and spot the similarities, while at the same time noticing differences between lives past and present, and perhaps asking: what will a similar exhibition look like a hundred years from now>

The exhibition was co-curated by Kazem Hakimi (photographer) and Marta Lomza (MOX Community Engagement & Exhibitions Curator)

Kazem Hakimi was born in Shiraz, Iran, in 1960. He started pursuing photography as a teenager. His practice is firmly embedded in the Oxford community and arts life. Hakimi had solo exhibitions at various Oxford galleries in 2008 (‘An Eye for Iran’, North Wall Arts Centre), 2009 (‘Eye Spy’, Art Jericho Gallery) and 2017 (‘Portraits from a Chip Shop’, co-curated by Modern Art Oxford and Arts at the Old Fire Station). He can often be seen at his fish and chip shop on Iffley Road, which he has run since 1988.

Marta Lomza works at the Museum of Oxford where she oversees community heritage projects, and at Queer Britain where she is Head of Collections/Curator. Her practice is rooted in collaborative processes such as co-curation and co-creation. Her work aims to give a platform to a variety of community-based creative practitioners.

The exhibition was originally funded by and displayed at the Museum of Oxford on St Aldates.

The main entrance has automatic doors and the whole building is wheelchair accessible with a lift to the first floor. Assistance dogs are welcome, water is available on request.

There is a gender neutral, wheelchair accessible toilets on both floors of the building, including backstage.

There are baby changing facilities on the first floor as well as a potty-training seat and step. You are welcome to breastfeed wherever you feel comfortable.

There is limited parking on the streets near Pegasus, even for Blue Badge holders. We have two disabled parking spaces to the rear of the theatre which can be reserved in advance.  If you would like to book a space or if you need assistance with a drop off or pick up, please contact our Box Office on boxoffice@pegasustheatre.org.uk or 01865 812 150