I was once left in a car at a young age. I don't know when or where or for how long, possibly at the age of four, perhaps outside a supermarket, probably for fifteen minutes only. The details don't matter. The point is that I wondered if anyone would come back: in a child's mind it is possible to be alone forever. Around the same age I developed a deep affinity with animals - in particular their plight at the hands of humans. I remember watching TV and seeing footage of a dog being put in a plastic bag and being kicked. What appalled me most was that the dog could not speak back. It's muteness terrified me. It is clear that both these experiences arose from the same place deep inside me: a fear of being alone and unheard. The images in this series explore that feeling, both in relation to myself and to animals in general. The camera is the perfect tool for capturing silence and longing: the shutter preserves the subject like a creature pickled behind glass. In this instance two layers of glass are placed between the viewer and the viewed: the glass of the lens and the glass of the car window. The dog is truly alone. When I started this project I knew the photos would be dark. What I didn't expect was to see so many subtle reactions by the dogs: some sad, some expectant, some angry, some dejected. It was as if upon opening up a box of grey-coloured pencils I was surprised to see so many shades inside. I hope that these pictures are engaging and perhaps a little amusing. I want to show that there is life in the dark places within us. I will stop writing now and you can stop reading. Words can only get us so far. After all, we are all animals
Martin Usborne, Sept 2010
All prints available in two sizes: 24" x 36" and 40" x 60", all are archival giclee prints in editions of 10.
Time For Tea, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Alfie, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Bear Kessie, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Bones, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Bones 2, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Flo, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Lottie, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Lottie 2, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Manny, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Peggy, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Peggy 2, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Prince, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Prince 2, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Prospero, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Prospero 2, archival giclee print, 24" x 36" & 40" x 60", edition of 10, 2010
Philosophy of my work
Much of my work is concerned with capturing the silence that we impose upon animals. Humans
have drawn an invisible curtain between themselves and the rest of the animal kingdom, an
artificial boundary that has caused very real suffering: animals are controlled, contained and muted
by us. My work exposes this silent but painful divide.
On another level, however, my images are about how we so often cut off from our true animal
nature: our angers, fears, hopes. These are raging emotions that we place behind the invisible
curtain inside.
By photographing the pain and silence and fear of animals – including ourselves - I’m always
amazed at the beauty that emerges. The message of my work is therefore one of hope: reconnect
with the rawness of nature - both inside and out - and discover something true and deeply
replenishing.
About my process
My best photographs are many steps ahead of my rational mind. Only after taking the shot do I
understand what motivated me. I have to trust my instincts, or I should say my heart. A project is
worth pursuing if it demands to be executed and will not leave my consciousness for many months
until I get the camera out and press the shutter.
Once I have taken the first image of a potential series – without quite why I took the shot – the
theme or project will present itself quite naturally. I am then happy to use whatever method is
appropriate to continue the series: the studio, or staging the shots in the outside world or simply
waiting until I see the right moment occurring around me – there is no formula I adhere to.
I almost always work with a digital setup however. When photographing animals it is hard to get
the right shot at exactly the right moment. The digital workflow gives immediate feedback and
allows for greater spontaneity than film.
Because much of my work is concerned with animal welfare I give 10% of my profits from my print
sales to animal charities.
EDUCATION
1997 - 99 Mphil, Glasgow School of Art
1992 - 97 MA hons (1st) Psychology and Philosophy, Edinburgh University
EXHIBITIONS
2011 (forthcoming)
MUTE, Frank Pictures Gallery, Santa Monica, California, USA
2010
MUTE, theprintspace Gallery, East London. (solo show)
2009
Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize, National Potrait Gallery, London (group show)
Unordinary People, PYMCA youth culture, Royal Albert Hall, London (group show)
Sample 09, Theprintspace, London (group show)
2008
I’ve lived in Hoxton for 81 ½ years, Candid Arts centre, London (solo show)
BOOMBOX: ReginikStudioGallery, Sao Paolo, Brazil (group show)
2007
Streets of NY-LON, Candid Arts Centre, London (solo show)
2006
Colours of Antigua, Hoxton Square Studios, London (solo show)
2005
Dead or Alive?, Lauderdale House Gallery, London (solo show)
AOP open awards, AOP Gallery, London (group show)
Children of South East Asia, East London Photomonth, London (solo show)
PUBLICATIONS
2011
My Name Is Moose, Anova Books.
2009
I’ve lived in Hoxton for 81 ½ years, MOU books.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
2011
It’s Nice That – volume 4
Flair Magazine Italia
Guardian Magazine – G2 section
2010
British Journal of Photography
BBC online
Independent Magazine
Sunday Times Magazine
Burn Magazine
Frij Nederlands
UNORDINARY PEOPLE – PYMCA book
PRESS
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