Your Sunday Inspiration ✨

Lily Barton, Êvar Hussayni, Peter Kennard and more ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Thatcher Unmasked © Peter Kennard,1986 After a week of far-right violence, intimidation and racism on the streets of England and Northern Ireland, it is important to remember that cross-community solidarity is alive and deep-rooted – and that cultural organisations have an important role to play in reflecting and advancing anti-racism. Exhibitions and events which had, before last week, derived their relevance from historical distance now appear as contemporary commentaries, stirring a certain discomfort among viewers given that racism, Islamophobia and anti-migrant sentiments seem to be thriving in the UK. And yet it is important to focus on unity as well as division. Peter Kennard’s protest photomontages are now more powerful and instructive than ever, with his anti-Apartheid imagery carrying particular weight at Whitechapel Gallery, in the heart of the East End where The Battle of Cable Street and late-1970s Bengali anti-racist protests loom large. Photographs from the latter were on view nearby at Four Corners in I Am Who I Am Now: Selections from the Bengali Photo Archive until yesterday: an exhibition which reminded viewers that diaspora lives in the UK have always comprised music, community, festivity and organising, and are not defined solely by protest and activism. (You can explore the archive online [here](. In Edinburgh, Tate Britain’s excellent Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990 lands at the National Galleries of Scotland, adding items from the Scottish national collection to what was already a defining showcase of the UK’s women-led progressive social history. Look out for newly added work by Maud Sulter, a Scottish Ghanaian writer and artist who was a key figure in the Black Arts Movement, working on books with Lubaina Himid and Ingrid Pollard as well as her own photography, in which she re-imagined herself as historical figures long before the strategy swept the medium. Lastly, as more imagery from the riots is published online and in newspapers, it is important to ask what role photography plays in conveying information, but also amplifying, narrating and representing both the far-right and the thousands of citizens who oppose them. BJP’s Diane Smyth wrote on this topic in [2019 for Magnum]( speaking with Chris Steele-Perkins and Ian Berry, who look back on photography’s potential for caricature with mixed-feelings after they shot The Battle of Lewisham in 1977. “The far right is depicted in photographs as the burly boys because it’s easy to do it that way,” Steele-Perkins said. “Skinheads shouting perhaps looks more intimidating than people with long hair shouting.” As we seek to further understand – and oppose – the events of the past two weeks, it is worth reflecting on the camera’s ability to both empower and disempower. ‘The camera erased the fact that I am a woman’: An uneasy step into the world of Freemasonry Long fascinated by her family’s association with the secret society, Lily Barton went in search of concealed truths – camera in hand [Read more]( [Build the way you want]( The art library decolonising photo archives The [West Asian and North African Women’s Art Library]( explores what roles photography and archives play for diasporic and marginalised communities [Read more]( Take our survey and win a photobook package Last week we invited our audience to share their experiences working in the photography industry ahead of the next Female in Focus call-to-entry opening this October. The feedback has been incredibly insightful, but we still need more voices to paint a complete picture. By sharing your experiences and perspectives, you’ll help us understand the challenges and identify solutions to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment. What’s in it for you? When you participate, you'll be entered into our exclusive giveaway for a photobook package. [Take the survey]( [Build the way you want]( Peter Kennard’s five-decade retrospective of political art and activism The show at the [Whitechapel Gallery]( pays homage to the artist’s notable role in art-ivism, spotlighting his heavy use of archival photography and manipulating mass-produced images [Read more]( [Build the way you want]( Deadline extended to support Bluecoat Press' Kickstarter In order to give as many people as possible the chance to support the book, Bluecoat Press has extended the deadline for their Kickstarter for Kirsty Mackay’s The Magic Money Tree. Support the Kickstarter campaign today to help bring this important book to life. [Support the campaign]( COMING SOON WORK ISSUE #7919 [Build the way you want]( Striking miners Children's Xmas Party, Ollerton Miners' Welfare, Nottingham, 1984-85. © Brenda Prince Brenda Prince’s pictures of women’s action groups involved with the miners’ strike appear in BJP’s forthcoming Work magazine. Protest and social history are big themes of this issue, in which we dive into the London School of Economics’ research visualising wealth inequality and trace anti-establishment photobooks from across the globe. All this alongside our usual emerging artist Projects, Studio Visit and Any Answers features. Secure your BJP Full Access Membership by 23 August to receive exclusive perks, including home delivery of the Work issue and free entry to our renowned awards: the next edition of Female in Focus x Nikon opens for entries in October 2024. Discover our subscription and membership options now. 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