Stories about hidden armies of struggling workers upon whom the consumption-driven lifestyles and wealth of the western world depend, usually focus on sweatshops in countries thousands of miles away. Taking Stock, an exhibition of David Whyte’s photographs, looks closer to home. The main focus of the show is a series of portraits of mostly local people – craftspeople, makers, artists – at work. Usually self-employed or running small businesses, many of these workers work in the periphery of the creative industries. Indeed, arts and culture – theatre, film, TV, opera and so on – could not exist without them. The COVID lockdown and associated loss of income exposed the precarious nature of their work and David set out to document what was happening. In the process he expanded the project to include workers beyond the creative industries but who faced similar problems. He is now creating an archive of small businesses, makers and artists, working around South London – often in spaces that are disappearing as re-development swallows up inner city industrial sites. David’s work poses an important question. Can society afford to lose this army of largely hidden and vulnerable craftspeople?
There is another story behind the portraits in that David uses a camera he made specifically for that purpose. Forsaking the convenience and extraordinary capabilities of digital photography, David has returned to basics to produce a series of black and white photos using film and a fixed lens home-made camera. This is very much in tune with the subjects themselves who rely on their skills and craft rather than technology.
Alongside the portraits is a series of landscapes and still lives. These lovely, cool and occasionally mysterious images make for an interesting contrast and shine a light on the breadth of David’s work.
Taking Stock: Landscape prints and Portraits runs until 22 September in Hardess Studios, Hardess Street SE24 0HN. Access is via Herne Hill Road.
