Zed Nelson/ INSTITUTE
Zed Nelson’s project shows the two sides of Hackney: a poor area with a high crime rate, yet also one of London trendiest locations, home to violent gangs as well as young professionals. With the Olympics fast approaching a spotlight has been put on the borough, will this summer be a celebration in comparison to last year riots? and what happens when the circus leaves town?
Although all the images are colour and the same format ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ is a varied body of work, comprising of glanced moments,street portraiture landscapes and details . All however are shot from the street and there is a real sense of Nelson pacing the pavements, building up a body of work.
Zed Nelson/ INSTITUTE
Nelson who lives in Hackney documents the highs and lows with a similar gaze, a young couple kissing on a boat, a floral tribute at a murder scene. It is this juxtaposition of coexistence that seems to be Nelson’s impetus for the project:
‘Hackney is in the midst of an extraordinary contemporary social situation, where the fashionable young hipsters, yuppie developments and organic café’s co-exist awkwardly with Hackney’s most under-privileged’.
The project is ongoing, with the Bristol exhibition being the first showing of the work outside London. The show is one of largest at this years festival and a headlining event.
The exhibition will be located at the Philadelphia Street Gallery a new exhibition space within Cabot Circus.
The preview night is on the 2nd of May and opens at 18.00. All are welcome.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Bristol Festival of Photography, INSTITUE ( who represent Zed Nelson) Vignette Magazine, The RGB Awards, with the work being printed by Photographique.
The show runs until the 17th of May, an exhibition of INSTITUTE photographer Paolo Woods ‘Radio Days’ will follow.
For more information on the show and festival:
http://www.bfop.org/listing/hackney-a-tale-of-two-cities
Institute:
http://blog.instituteartistmanagement.com/