Photographer. Lives in London, UK
(Shortlisted finalist of The Subversive Image competition)
Black Hosts and White Hosts
‘White Host’ highlights, in the literal sense of “bringing to light” against a stark, black background, the persecution of the Christian faith by the Nazis during World War II, an issue which history has sometimes marginalised in the context of the scale of the horror of the genocide of European Jews. The image simultaneously alludes to the alleged silence of Pope Pius XII during the Nazi persecution of the Jews.
The second image, ‘Black Host’, emphasises the significance of race within this conflict and hints at a re-evaluation of the Holocaust as a programme of Nazi-sponsored extermination which transcended the confines of the Jewish community, targeting Christians and non-whites alike. It also plays on the “black and white morality” trope of pure good versus absolute evil which is frequently engendered in religious, as well as popular, consciousness.”
The images below are actual photographs of fire arms either used by the British forces or captured by the British forces in the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, the second Gulf war or the war in Afghanistan.
Crowd Pleaser – Crowd Killer
This is the image of a firework next to a grenade launcher, the firework used in celebration and the grenade launcher captured by British forces in Afghanistan.
Peace Keeper – War Maker
This is the image of an SA80 used by British forces in the second Gulf war next to an AK47 used by the Iraqi forces in the second Gulf war.
Race Starter – Race Ender
This is the image of a starter pistol and a Bosnian machine gun, both used in Bosnia with the machine gun captured by British forces.
The LibArts Questionnaire
Who is your favourite artist/director/author/photographer?
Artist: Cecilia Matson (now Kinnear)
Director: Michael Mann
Author: Patrick Süskind
Photographer: William Eggleston
What inspires you?
The banality in life and how fascinating and beautiful it can be. Artists who can make the banal beautiful.
What is your favourite image?
Steph as Dorian Gray from the Mayfair Squatters series
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
This changes all the time. When I am away from home, then being at home with my wife. When I am drinking a bad wine, then a bottle of Château Latour 1961. When a camera battery is low, then a full battery. Happiness comes and goes and constantly changes.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing things and people that are important to me.
More about the artist
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