John Spinks, The New Village

For over 15 years, John Spinks has been photographing the small mining village in North Warwickshire where he spent his childhood. He left the village aged 18 to pursue the study of photography, and in 2000, began the process of engaging with his past through his work.

The large format colour photographs are both sober and beautiful, suggesting the possibility of an uncanny hidden narrative in both the landscape and its inhabitants. 'The New Village' is a key bit of research in my work as like Spinks, I am documenting my hometown. Within my own work, i think that it will be important to explore the use of film particularly the use of medium format cameras such as the Mayima RZ to enhance my work. Spinks explores the notion of belonging and identity creating something that is familiar yet unsettling.

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