Growing up in Leicester, my family would make occasional shopping trips to Birmingham but the Black Country remained relatively undiscovered. Now, all these years later, the area feels both familiar and obscure, which allows me to maintain a certain distance. This is useful in helping me make my work here - a mix of static, large format urban landscapes and videos of the apparently thriving beauty industry. The Black Country seems to have been hit very hard by the recession. Yet, in spite of this bleak backdrop, the spirit of the people I've met - their warm welcome, their openness - is tangible and remarkable.Mark Power
Associated media
Street market, West Bromwich, 12 March 2011 © Mark Power
Mark Power's Black Country Stories
Summary
Multistory commissioned Mark Power, Magnum photographer, in March 2011 to work with us on the Black Country Stories body of work.
We have invited Mark to make work that explores the social landscape of the Black Country, using his large negative (5x4 inch) Horseman FA camera. This is a camera that must be used on a tripod and with a cloak which makes the photographer very visible and attracts quite a bit of attention on a busy street (see project media).The large format camera also means the photographer stands at some distance from the subject and produces images with an almost still-life quality that demand contemplation and analysis.
As part of Mark's commission we have also asked him to work digitally to make a series of short digital films and stills.
Mark Power's Black Country Stories will be exhibited at The New Art Gallery Walsall from July to September in 2012, and will then tour to a number of regional venues (see 'exhibitions' page for more information).
Follow Mark on Multistory's Twitter, Facebook and blog. We will be posting blog updates about Mark's time in the Black Country to give some insights into the way he works.
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