Renowned british photographer paul graham was the recipient of the 2012 hasselblad foundation international award in photography, which is regarded as photographys highest prize for lifetime achievement. Here paul graham aestheticizes transience, disharmonies, but above all a detail in this context. Great north road, a shimmer of possibility, new europe. Conceived as the central artery of the 1930s trunk road system, the a1 travels from the bank. The great north road 1982, and gained the notice of the photographic world generally with beyond caring 1986 and troubled land 1987. A really busy and enjoyable month looking at this great book with a whole bunch of contributors to whom i am extremely thankful for making it. Empty heaven, kunstmuseum wolfsburgscalo books, zurich. Paul graham, whitechapel gallery, london financial times. New europe, fotomuseum winterthurcornerhouse publications, manchester. Graham spent two years completing this documentary on the life and landscape of what had been known as the great. In the late 1950s, with the completion of the faster and more efficient motorway system, the a1 began to atrophy and decay. Paul graham the whiteness of the whale martyn rainbird.
Throughout 1981 and 1982 he made numerous trips along the a1, crossing and recrossing the length of the nation to record every aspect of. The a1 was the first major road to run the entire length of england. The a1 was the first major road to run the entire length of england, linking the two nations of north and south. An entirely selftaught photographer, his early books, such as a1 the great north road 1983. Paul graham is one of the best photobook makers ever beyond caring, troubled land, a1.
The great north road 9780950870304 by paul graham and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. A1 the great north road is a series of color photographs from 198182, depicting life along an old arterial road in england made obsolete by the motorway system. A1 the great north road signed photobook paul graham. Graham was exploring what photographs might give us beyond evocative contingency. In umbra res, sixteen photographs of northern ireland, limited edition signed fine near fine. The interview with quentin bajac chief curator of photography at moma in the course notes referenced graham. Using many of the tropes of documentary photography yet working in largeformat color, graham created a body of work that dissolved the black and white tradition. This is the first of the three very influential books of grahams work that redefined the european approach to documentary photography. Paul grahams rare first book in very fine condition. A comprehensive documentary survey of the a1 highway in england. The great north road, as the collection was called when it was. In end of an age british photographer paul graham captures the threshold moments that mark the ending of adolescence the small slice of time between youthful indulgence and th.
An excerpt from a gallery text on his website says that he belongs to a rare group of. The photographs reproduced in this book build not only into a significant documentary of the a1, but also provide a thread along which we can travel the great. Between 1981 and 1986, while living in london, graham made three books of colour photography that are now much sought after by collectors and. Paul graham has 43 books on goodreads with 224 ratings. Graham is the author of 12 books and survey monographs that document different areas of the world. Great north road is a science fiction novel by peter f. Paul graham, douglas hyde gallery, dublin cat paul graham, hasselblad prize 2012, hasselblad foundationmack, uk.
A1the great north road, 198182, is the british equivalent of route 66, with rainsoaked motorway services instead of neonlit diners on sunset freeways. See more ideas about paul graham, graham and photography. Paul graham paul graham 2009 a shimmer of possibility 2009 american night 2003 end of an age 1999 empty heaven. The great north road signed limited edition paul graham. To mark this occasion, the hasselblad centre in gothenburg, sweden presented an exhibition of grahams first published work a1 the great north road 1981 and his latest series of. The great north road 1983, dates from the early years of margaret thatchers.
Photographs 19812006 is on view at whitechapel gallery in london through june 19, 2011. Blyth services manages a bleak oasis of geometric orange light, rainston is a retro wonderland of 1930s decor. Following graduation, he dedicated himself to pursuing his own work and in 198182 released a1the great north road, a series of color photographs from along the length of the british a1 road, that had a transformative effect on the blackandwhite tradition. Paul graham by prince, mark art monthly, issue 347. Throughout 1981 and 1982 he made numerous trips along the a1 crossing and recrossing the length of the nation to record every aspect of life at the verge of this great road. The 400 mile route was the busiest road in the country, and quickly became known as the great north road, a title it aptly deserved until the late 1950s, when it. I would drive along the a1, which starts in london, runs up the entire length of england, and crosses the border into scotland to end in edinburgh. Throughout 1981 and 1982 he made numerous trips along the a1, crossing and recrossing the length of the nation to record every aspect of life at the verge of this great road. Id treat these trips like worktravel, similar to what i did with a shimmer of possibility 20046 many years later, sleeping in the. Paul graham born uk, 1956 studied microbiology at bristol university 197578, uk, where he found and embraced fineart photography. Oblong quarto, original stiff laminated photographic wrappers. Carefully constructing his pictures as provocative often open ended vignettes, instead of just. Gallery image of american night image by i have found myself again revisiting the work of paul graham.
The work of paul graham has been improving steadily, broadening in both scope and ambition, since he first came to the attention of the british photographic community with a1. Great north road garage, edinburgh, november 1981 by paul. His work entitled a1the great north road focused on a stretch of the a1 road, using bright and saturated colors. Spanish coins on a honeyyellow metal surface covered with rust spots or minimal irritations of various kinds, broken, cut twigs or a metal part, in the foliage of the plants, according to the untitled triptych belfast, 1988. I wanted to look clearly at her last years on earth.
Photographer paul graham spent two years completing this documentary on the life and landscape of the great north road. The following notes have been made after looking at the book paul graham 1 containing a selection of his pictures taken between 1981 and 2006, organised by series and in chronological order the book starts with grahams pictures from the series a1 the great north road, which i presume were taken alongside the a1 from its start in central london until its end in edinburgh. The whiteness of the whale a conversation with paul graham. The first book by the english photographer paul graham, a1.
Great north road garage, edinburgh, november 1981 by. The unreasonable apple 2010 from a1 the great north road, 19811982. Edited by paul graham in collaboration with dragana vujanovic and louise wolthers from the. Eugene smith grant, fellowships from winston churchill memorial trusts, citation needed john simon guggenheim memorial foundation, and won the inaugural paris.
The great north road is an accumulation of images shot between 1981 and 1982 by paul graham documenting the life and times of the people and landscapes along the spinal cord of communication in the uk. Paul grahams photographs turn base metal into gold, says alastair sooke. The great north road, a summary a really busy and enjoyable month looking at this great book with a whole bunch of contributors to whom i am extremely thankful for making it such a vibrant and lively discussion. Great north road garage, edinburgh, november 1981 by paul graham in the latest instalment in his series on his dream photography collection, ft critic francis hodgson looks at a.