An appraisal of British Photography during the 1980's,
considered in relation to the cultural background in which it
originated. The author states that ""a consideration of
'British' photography in the sense of a search for spurious
national characteristics has become largely irrelevant as
opposed to the issue of photography IN Britain...''. Instead of
a British style, there is simply a healthy variety of practices
and strategies. The author distinguishes a unifying theme among
the profusion of strategies deployed today in the photobased
visual arts: an almost universal rejection of what could be
called 'the burden of representation' resulting in ""an escape
into pure fiction, the creation of imaginary narratives,
fabricated worlds and staged activity''. Citing Chevrier and
Lingwood, and referring to John Tagg's disagreement with
Barthes, the author states: ""It is through the metaphorical use
of the residual magic that the photograph can finally escape
representation''. In this vein the author reviews the works of
Mari Mahr, Craigie Horsfield, Roger Palmer, Willie Doherty,
Verdi Yahooda, Mona Hatoum, Susan Trangmar, Keith Arnatt and Yve
Lomax. Portfolio's of these photographers are included, along
with short introductions by Susan Butler, Martin Caiger-Smith,
Hilary Gresty, Ian Walker and John Stathatos. This overview of
new British photography is complemented by a 4-page Selective
Bibliography, 1979-1990 ""concerned primarily with the practice
of fine art photography in Britain over the last decade''.


Citaten:
Barthes, R.: Camera Lucida (1981)
Tagg, J.: The Burden of Representation (1988)
Stathatos, J.: Neanderthal Policies (Europ. Photogr. 1989, 39)
Fuller, P.: A Renaissance in British Art? (Modern Painters 1988, 1)
Martin, R.: Strategies of Estrangement (Europ. Photogr. 1982, 9)
Chevrier, J.-F. / Lingwood, J.: Specific Pictures (in: Another Objectivity, 1988)
Stathatos, J.: Finding a Language: Mari Mahr (Creat. Camera 1989, June)
Fisher, J.: Seeing Beyond the Pale (exh.cat. Ffotogallery, 1990)
Lomax, Y.: The World Is a Fabulous Tale (in: Other than Itself, 1989)