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Autograph are pleased to present the first online exhibition of works by photographer Russell Newell, capturing life on Peckham's estates in South East London in the 70s and 80s.
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In addition to the captions provided below by Newell, you can read an interview with with the artist about his experiences of documenting the many characters and constituents who surrounded him while growing up on the estates.
"I was born in Peckham in 1965. I have been a book lover since childhood, so when I got my camera I went to the library and found books on the subject of photography. In my early to mid-teens I spent a lot of time reading books and studying the life and work of great photographers such as W. Eugene Smith, Robert Frank and Ernest Cole. My personal practice is almost entirely self-taught."
"After living in New Romney, Kent for a few years, my family returned to London to live permanently in Peckham when I was 11. It was the first time in my life I had friends from a variety of backgrounds. The area was also an exciting place to explore."
"I tended to move through Peckham's different constituencies with my camera - I was sociable and always keen to make new connections. Being the local photographer was my identity really - it's how everybody knew me."
"On 11th April 1981, I inadvertently cycled into the middle of the Brixton Riots with my brother on our way home one Saturday afternoon. That was the first time in my life that I witnessed police brutality and violent struggle. I also got caught up in the Peckham riots that same summer and was arrested and beaten quite badly by cops."
"I like to carefully compose a frame with the expectation that something unexpected will occur. Whether that’s the presence of a person, a change in the light, the weather or some other event. I like to immerse myself in the serendipity of the moment, and its endless possibilities. Sometimes this means waiting for long stretches to get the perfect image."
"I was always fascinated by windows lit up at night - the arrangement of the estate meant that many dwellings faced each other, overlooked by walkways and I took comfort in the glow, and the knowledge of the lives being lived within."
Russell was born in Peckham in 1965. He is an avid reader and largely a self-taught artist. He began his career in his early-teens with photography, then moved into film and television. He has been managing technical and digital creative projects for over 30 years. During this time he has continued to realise various personal creative projects using photography, writing, film, painting, perfumery and craft-making. He is currently CEO and founder of Isofi, a music and mental health tech startup.
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Autograph is a place to see things differently. Since 1988, we have championed photography that explores issues of race, identity, representation, human rights and social justice, sharing how photographs reflect lived experiences and shape our understanding of ourselves and others.
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