at The Photographers Gallery 16th October 2022
Written by Bob Griffiths
Chris Killip’s ability to capture stories of people in deprived areas of Britain creates a compelling exhibition in this wonderful, central London gallery. A BBC News review states Killip is “one of the UK’s most important and influential post-war photographers” (BBC News Online, 2022) and I wholeheartedly agree.
Should you visit this Retrospective?
Yes, but be prepared for simultaneous heartbreak and warmth.
Born in 1946, Killip died only two years ago and produced a body of work celebrated worldwide for capturing what he once called, “real moments in people’s lives” (Best, McElwee, Guzzetti,2022).
Combining street photography, portraiture, and documentary photography, Killip understood the importance of being close to the subjects of his photographs. This is evident throughout the exhibition as curator, Tracy Marshall-Grant, states “His empathy for the people continued throughout his whole life” (The Photographers Gallery, 2022).
The gallery staff suggest a start on the fifth floor working downwards to make the most of this exhibition. The two floors of Killip’s work contain images from the 1970s on the Isle of Man all the way through to some of his longer-term projects of the 1980s, capturing the hardships of life in the Northeast of England during deindustrialisation, miners strikes and increasing poverty.
A starkly painted red wall containing information on Killip’s life and career marks the beginning of the exhibition. Prints are displayed in unassuming, black frames of equal size, behind glass and a mount, barring a few larger prints whose edges bleed to the frame. These are hung in orderly fashion on mostly white walls, except where red is used to highlight some works. Vitrines of books, magazines and other artifacts appear on both floors also.
In the early years of the 1970s, Killip documented people, communities, and the continuation of the pre-industrial farming practices on the Isle Of Man.
An early image of a market shows farmers waiting for animals to be presented ahead of an auction. The camera ingeniously sited to suggest that it might be where farmers are the commodity being traded.
The 1974 to 1977 work shows shipyards and coal mining towns, the declining industrial life of British people in the Northeast.
One large print, Youth on a Wall (Killip,1976) is a stark representation made even more arresting by its scale and it moved me. Killip appears to have created a portal between today and 1976 Jarrow.
Another red wall features Wallsend, Tyneside. Children playing in the street, overshadowed by a huge super tanker in a nearby shipyard before the series cleverly moves its punchline onto a perpendicular white wall. This conclusion portraying the same area during demolition, and it hit me like a concealed gut punch.
Skinningrove 1982-1984 is a time capsule of the lives of the various residents set in front of seemingly depressing backdrops. Killip seems able to directly access the viewers emotions by portraying deeply moving narratives, such as the image of a well-dressed young boy going out to sea for the first time since his father drowned.
Workers harvesting sea coal initially appears bleak but lighter moments shine through as Killip immersed himself in the sceptical community.
In the accompanying book Killip states that his impression of the beach was “the Middle Ages and twentieth century entwined” (Killip, 2022, p. 80).
Artistically, Gordon on Critch’s cart (Killip,1983) is an example of Killip’s amazing skill and composition, instantly reminiscent of classical paintings such as Apollo in his chariot (Giordano, c.1685).
To close the exhibition, images from Killip’s 1988 book “In Flagrante” capture the struggles of working-class families in Thatcher’s Britain. The Punks moshing in images from “The Station” book, cause me to almost recoil to avoid the spit.
A circumspect selection, “all killer, no filler”, every image has a purpose and fits into the narrative Killip purposefully authored throughout his career. It is a good reminder that a photographer must be in it to win it, either be on the scene or miss the opportunity.
Tracy Marshall-Grant and Ken Grant have curated over 140 images resulting in a time travelling adventure through a bygone, yet very recent, age. The exhibition is open until 19th February 2023, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in documentary photography or social commentary.
Images from the exhibition can also be found in some of Killip’s books available in the TPG shop alongside all manner of books, cameras, films, and gifts.
List Of References
BBC News (2022) Chris Killip: Retrospective for influential British photographer. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-63163667 (Accessed: 8 Nov 2022).
Best, M, McElwee R, Guzzetti, A. (2022) ‘Christopher David Killip, 74, Memorial Minute – Faculty of Arts and Sciences’, Harvard Gazette, 12 October. Available at: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/10/christopher-david-killip-74/ (Accessed: 12/11/2022).
Giordano, L (c.1685) Apollo in his chariot [Painting]. Available at: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/33147 (Accessed: 14/11/2022).
Griffiths, B. (2022) Installation view of Chris Killip Retrospective [Photograph]
Griffiths, B. (2022) Installation view [Photograph]
Griffiths, B. (2022) Installation View of Wallsend Wall [Photograph]
Killip, C. (2022) Chris Killip. London: Thames & Hudson. Extract pp. 80.
Killip, C (1972) The Mart, St John’s [Photograph]. The Photographers Gallery, London (Viewed: 16th October 2022).
Killip, C (1976) Youth on a wall [Photograph]. The Photographers Gallery, London (Viewed: 16th October 2022).
Killip, C (1983) Gordon on Critch’s cart [Photograph]. The Photographers Gallery, London (Viewed: 16th October 2022).
Killip, C (1983) Simon Coultas being taken to sea for the first time since his father David drowned [Photograph]. The Photographers Gallery, London (Viewed: 16th October 2022).
Chris Killip (2022) Retrospective [Exhibit]. The Photographers Gallery, London, (Viewed:16th October 2022).
The Photographers’ Gallery (2022) Chris Killip, Retrospective – An Interview with Exhibition Curators Tracy Marshall Grant & Ken Grant. 10 October. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MddqPV2URsc (Accessed: 14/11/2022).
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