Top 10 Exhibits at Liverpool's LOOK/15 International Photography Festival
LOOK/15 photography festival in Liverpool focuses on the theme of exchange, encompassing issues of cultural diversity, migration, story-telling and memory, with the city of Liverpool and its global and local significance at the heart of the programme. Here are the must-see exhibitions at this year’s LOOK/15 festival in the heart of the city, which explores a variety of cultures and themes. The festival hosts the photography of amateurs and professionals, building a strong community relationship with the art which makes it very personal.
The Modern Kids
Cinema
G20 Double Take
G20 Double Take
G20 Double Take by Billy Macrae is another stunning exhibition on show at the Open Eye Gallery. Billy’s unique technique exposes the violence from the street protests in 2009. The visual contrasts produced by his photographs are easy to appreciate and would otherwise be hard to imagine. Billy clearly knows how to produce clean photography and his work is bursting with visual excitement as well as relevant context for the festival.
Open Eye Gallery, 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
Richard Ross, Orleans Parish Prison, New Orleans, Louisiana 2009. From the series Juvenile in Justice © Richard Ross.Juvenile In Justice
Juvenile In Justice
Richard Ross‘ is, arguably, the most powerful display of photographs on show at the festival. Juvenile In Justice is displayed in its own encapsulating room in the Open Eye Gallery which completely absorbs you in his work. The exhibition is a collection of photographs of young juvenile in various facilities around America. The strong colours in his work bounce off the white walls of the room, forcing you to engage in the tragic story behind each image. Richard hides their faces to add a mystical element to his work and the clever curation of the exhibition leaves you in silence, surrounded by misunderstood juveniles.
Open Eye Gallery, 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
Helen Marshall, Project Tobong, City Wall, Indonesia 2012 © Helen Marshall & Risang Yuwono
Project Tobong
Project Tobong
Helen Marshall’s Project Tobong is arguably the most eye-catching material at LOOK/15. The exhibition evolves around the last remaining nomadic theatre troupe in Indonesia and Marshall brings together the hilarious facial expressions and eccentric fashion of the ancient Asian dancers, and the modern urban environment. This results in a bizarre series of photographs that grab hold of your imagination and force a smile to arise. There is also a degree of melancholy brought round by the dying art form of the dancers which engages you with Helen’s work.
Open Eye Gallery, 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
Kiera Daley – Body parts for sale… Reasonable prices | © Kiera DaleyBody parts for sale… Reasonable prices
Body parts for sale… Reasonable prices
Student Kiera Daley has used the remains of broken Barbie dolls to create a mutilation scene and a separate kinky bedroom display. The effects are dramatic and it represents a small snapshot of her mind. The work reflects her viewpoint on the new trend of radical feminism and how she spends her life in the comfort of her bed. The imagination and subject of her work fits with the spirit of LOOK/15.
Warp Gallery, Hurst Street, Liverpool, UK
Tricia Porter – Liverpool Photographs 1972-74 | © Tricia PorterLiverpool Photographs 1972-74
School
AOP photography awards
AOP photography awards
This showcase of award winning photography is hung in St George’s Hall and has heavy emphasis on the theme of women. Julia Fullerton-Batten’s work is very mysterious and hosts a very powerful appearance. The artwork is all hung facing each other down a long, narrow corridor and the curation of the photography allows each piece to feed off the energy of others.
St George’s Hall, Saint George’s Place, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
Tony Mallon – If Only It Could Speak | © Tom MallonIf Only It Could Speak
Building
Will They Sing Like Raindrops or Leave Me Thirsty?
Will They Sing Like Raindrops or Leave Me Thirsty?
This collection of work by Max Pinckers explores honour killings in India caused by the restrictions of love and marriage in the country. Max uses newspaper cuttings and striking photography to expose the tragic consequences of love to create a powerful real life story. The Love Commandos are a group of guys that aim to save young couples who have fallen in love from honour killing and Max’s photographs deliver a deeply emotional portrayal of modern society in India. St George’s Hall provides an almost spooky presence to the beautifully tragic story behind the work.
St George’s Hall, Saint George’s Place, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
Louis Quail, Desk Job, Team Supervisor, Customer Service Representative, electricity and gas supplier, Berlin, Connecticut, USA 2007 © Louis QuailDesk job
Desk job
‘Social portraiture’ is the theme behind Louis Quail‘s work at the Open Eye Gallery and his ability to catch momentary facial expressions allows his work to connect with the audience. Louis focuses on American office workers to suggest a lack of identity in their small cubicle. This creates a powerful message and together with the clarity of the photographs, allow us to explore the emotions of the office workers.
Open Eye Gallery, 19 Mann Island, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
By Shay Waterworth
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.