The Decommissioned Landscape

I had never heard of John Davies, but was instantly drawn to his epic landscapes of The British Isles hanging in the cafe at The Photographers' Gallery. Their monumentus presence in style, subject and size, transport you from the tea stirring clatter of the West End to the silent hilltop looking down upon conflicting environments of co-existence. That is not to say these images are casting judgement, but simply presenting a view that can only be seen when captured by the patient and caring; drawing our attention to the world around us and more importantly the bigger picture. No pun intended. Man and the elements have always been in a push-pull relationship and with the ever persistent growth of industry, that dynamic has accelerated.


The images presented are not that of booming economic growth, but rather the downside of industry built on (depleating) natural resources. A typical image shows the cooling towers of a power station, casting shadows over a neighboring field, where a football game is played, with storm clouds looming on the horizon. Somehow these vast landscapes of dirt and grim are intimate and personal, like a love affair with it's ever glooming fate. These images really need to be experienced in the flesh to appreciate their power and beauty. You can fall in love with The British Landscape until 6th April 2008.