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john davies
notes from a small vicar
from a parish
in Liverpool, UK

    Tuesday, April 18, 2006
    Potty
     


    "Julian Trevelyan was interested in photographing everyday life in the hope of revealing significant patterns of unconscious behaviour. Seeing a correlation between the aims of Surrealism and the aims of Mass-Observation, Trevelyan accepted Tom Harrisson's invitation to participate in the Worktown project and travelled to Bolton in 1938. For the socially consciencious Trevelyan the project had particular resonance, presenting an opportunity to tell the 'truth' about everyday life for everyday people. His photographs for Mass-Observation reveal a Surrealist fascination with the odd and eccentric in the everyday."

    The Tate exhibition Making History: Art and Documentary in Britain from 1929 to Now was, as expected, very good. A joy to discover such gems as Trevelyan; affirming to find personal favourites like Martin Parr and Patrick Keiller featured.

    Just disappointed to miss some of the films: there's a lot of them in the exhibition, they play in full and they're looped so despite revisiting the booth we failed to get a glimpse of Humphrey Jennings' Listen to Britain or William Raban's Thames Film. Should try to revisit; will have to be quick - it closes on Sunday.