Sarah Lang

Anyone can step inside photographer Aidan Brook’s corner box and be photographed isolated from their environment and all expectations and prejudices.

 

The photographs will then be viewed by five artists, led by Sarah Lang, each of whom will select one photograph.  Each artist will then create a work that they associate with the anonymous image. 

 

The result of this three way collaboration between subject, photographer and artist will be the exhibition, Isolation|Association. This will show every photograph that was taken in isolation, alongside the five art works that have been created by association. 

 

The creation and enjoyment of Art does not require an invitation or special qualifications, you simply have to be interested and present.  So anyone can be a subject for the corner box and everyone can come to the exhibition.  (Whoever steps inside the corner box will be able to take home a free copy of their photograph at the end of the project. )

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SARAH LANG 

"THE ANCESTOR"

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John Singer-Sargent painted his portrait of Lord Ribblesdale in 1902. The portrait was gifted to the National Gallery by Lord Ribblesdale and it still hangs there today. 

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Singer-Sargent painted Lord Ribblesdale at the suggestion of King Edward VII because “The Ancestor”, as King Edward had nicknamed Ribblesdale, was the epitome of what the King thought an aristocrat should be. 

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When I saw Aidan’s photographs, this image immediately reminded me of Singer-Sargent’s portrait. The pose is similar but it is the poise and sense of nobility of the subject that stands out. In 1902 to become as powerful and influential as Lord Ribblesdale you would have to be born into the right family. Today, although things are not perfect, you can do great things regardless of your ancestry. Looking at this young man from Newham, I believe he has what it takes to be the equivalent of Lord Ribblesdale today and I wanted to give him a glimpse of this possible future.