Wendy Aldiss:
My Fathers Things
14 April - 6 May 2023
Thurs - Sun 12.00 - 17.00
Medieval Barn behind the Old Bank Hotel by the Oxford Collection ♿
Wendy Aldiss’s My Father’s Things is a deeply personal and heartfelt series, featuring photographs of her father’s possessions taken after he passed away. The artist’s father, Brian Aldiss, was a famous author, living in Oxford, and the exhibition shows his desk and bookcase strewn with photographs of his belongings, and other images of both everyday and unique.
Aldiss created a photographic archive of everything that her father owned at the time of his death, aged 92, resulting in more than 9,000 images. This piece of work was a way for Aldiss to cope with the upset and adversity of her loss, but also to celebrate his life and keep him connected to the space and surroundings. The images also serve as a reminder of what we choose to keep and how those we leave behind have the job of dealing with personal possessions.
The accompanying book ‘My Father’s Things’ has been met with critical acclaim with Phillip Pullman saying of it “This is a book to pore over and marvel at, beautiful and funny and moving. I loved it”.
The exhibition, in the Medieval Barn, Old Bank Hotel, is curated by Laura Noble.
Wendy Aldiss
Photographer Wendy Aldiss was born in Oxford, UK and studied photography at Trent Polytechnic. Her interest is in people and the human condition/experience. Her work is influenced by the people around her and key stages in life. Wendy’s images include the portrayal of people themselves through environmental portraits, and the depiction of emotions and experiences.
Wendy’s work has been exhibited internationally and appeared in various publications. Books of her works have been published by Pannoval Press and Café Royal Books. She is a member of the ’24 Photography’ group and her UK exhibitions include Burma Veterans: Unforgettable’ (2016-2018) and My Father’s Things.
Wendy has been Photographer in Residence at the Radcliffe Infirmary hospital, Oxford, documented the Banbury Stockyard and worked with Oxford’s mental health charity ‘Restore’, creating work and running workshops. She has also run photography workshops with other artists for recently released female offenders at the Elizabeth Fry charity.
Wendy works in film as well as digital. She was nominated for RPS 100 Heroines in 2018. In 2022 Wendy was shortlisted for the Photo London Nikon Emerging Photographer Award and has been nominated for the Prix Pictet 2023 She has recently been awarded a DYCP grant from the Arts Council.
Wendy is represented by the L A Noble Gallery in London
Book: ‘My Father’s Things’ available here.
Wendy Aldiss will be in the exhibition space to talk to visitors about her work on April 14, 15, 21, 23, 29 and May 6; and other times by arrangement.
Events
21 April, 2.30pm: Curator’s Talk, FREE
Laura Noble, curator of the exhibition 'My Father's Things' by Wendy Aldiss, will talk about the project and her approach to the exhibition in the Medieval Barn at the heart of Oxford compared to other displays of the project in traditional exhibition spaces.
Laura Noble is a curator, writer, collector and champion of photography in all of its forms, with over 20 years of experience in the museum and commercial art worlds. She is the director of L A Noble Gallery and founder of FIX Photo Festival. Laura has worked with museums, festivals, galleries, collectors and artists in various capacities including curating international exhibitions. She is the author of 'The Art of Collecting Photography', and writes texts for photobooks and is also a reviewer at portfolio reviews in the UK and abroad. As a judge for numerous competitions globally and a Prix Pictet nominator her support of the medium is paramount.
© Wendy Aldiss
© Wendy Aldiss
© Wendy Aldiss
14 April - 6 May 2023
Thurs - Sun 12.00 - 17.00
Medieval Barn behind the Old Bank Hotel by the Oxford Collection ♿
92-94 High Street Oxford OX1 4BJ