Gill Golding

I first met Gill Golding on a study visit with the OCA, and of course realised when I did that I had read about her in the OCA post Getting Out There.  And of course, the article says it all, but there is the additional inspiration factor that deserves a mention.  Gill's work is all about urban regeneration, preservation of history, and producing urban narratives.  I have only met Gill a couple of times, but already I am inspired by her commitment, focus, and the way in which she is developing her path in photography.  I've understood that in order to progress as a photographer, I need to get out more with groups and get work displayed, meet people with similar interests - in fact, progress beyond Camera Club!  This is of course aligned with my recent experimentation with more conceptual (rather than postcards) work through DPP Assignment One.  Through Gill I have got to know and joined London Independent Photography and also become aware of the work Crossing Lines - a Goldsmiths group.  Thank you!

One photograph that I would particularly like to talk about is this image of "Tesco Town" from her "Post Industrial Series - a look at Woolwich" work.

(c) Gill Golding

Visually, the image is very striking.  Clear lighting, red accents, strong shadows, blue/green vs red, clear horizontals and a very strong triangle line formed by the people lining the path leading from the foreground, to the left side and then back towards the mid-ground taking the eye to the entrance of Tesco.

Then, once I'd understood the composition, what struck me immediately was the sense that the world has stopped; that time had stood still; as if Tesco were in control.  This is very similar sensation to the one I had from another piece of work called Tehran by Mitra Tabrizian from the Light From The Middle East exhibition, which also seemed as if time had stopped with an omnipresent force (in this case the billboard) watching over.  In Gill's photograph Tesco dominates.  And of course, everywhere you go in the UK, Tesco is everywhere; Tesco does dominate.  It's ironic that their slogan is "Every little helps"; this is true of most things, however, Tesco are not little....Gill is documenting the regeneration of Woolwich, and of course with regeneration, comes a loss of tradition, history, individuality.  This photograph could have been taken anywhere in the UK, you don't really see it as Woolwich.  It just looks like Tesco: modern, imposing, loss of local identity, and just as the photograph draws your eye in to the store, Tesco lures you in in real life, because it's so convenient!  And if you can't get to them, they come to you...