23 May 2012
Portraits of drinkers hold a mirror up to pub culture
Image shows Fiona's work at the Degree Show
Mortality, modernity, loneliness, depression, alcoholism, stoicism, masculinity and defeatism are explored in a series of striking portraits of regulars at a traditional Scottish pub exhibited at this year's DJCAD Degree Show.
Fiona McKay, a Fine Art graduand at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, created intimate, non-posed photographic portraits of elderly working class drinkers at The Wheatsheaf Bar in Denny as an exploration of the country's relationship with alcohol.
Fiona (21), whose parents own the pub and who has worked there as a barmaid for the past three years, was moved to capture how new personal and social identities of regulars were formed with the pub, regardless of their status outside its walls.
The resulting 3.5 x 2.5 ft wall-mounted screen prints are vividly coloured and contrast with the subtle messages presented within the work. They are accompanied by a series of disconnected quotes about alcohol from the likes of Hemmingway and Morrissey.
Fiona says it was not her intention to judge the individuals featured, but rather to draw attention to their social position and own perception of individual identity and present their portraits in a neutral fashion.
"I know the pub regulars well, so there is an element of trust between us and I appreciate them letting me photograph them for this project," she said. "I wanted to capture intimate moments between them, the warmth and companionship, anger and annoyance, experienced by the regulars, whether humorous, angry or displaying any of the other emotions that you see in any pub.
"I realise that I'm fortunate in having a barmaid's perspective. This advantage gives me insight into the rationale of the regulars themselves. I benefit from a degree of intimacy, and a degree of ostracisation. Where I feel ostracised, I realise that this echoes the feelings of the regulars themselves. This has made me more impassioned regarding my subject matter.
"Pub culture has always been a big part of my life. I've witnessed first-hand the lives of our regulars and have a relationship with them that goes beyond serving them drinks. They know I enjoy photographic work and I was lucky to be able to capture them in a documentary style as they interacted with each other.
"What interested me was the idea of community-within-a-community. They may live in the same town, but they actively choose to visit this one pub and spend time with the people who also drink there. They come to the pub for camaraderie. Alcohol is obviously a big part of why they do this, and I wanted to explore people's relationship with alcohol in a non-judgemental way, which is why there is no overlay of the text and imagery included in my final exhibit.
"Some of the regulars use alcohol as a means of relaxing, while others have a problem, but it is not clear from the images who falls into either category. I was more interested in looking at why people come to the pub.
"A lot are older people who hold on to memories and values from the past. They are stuck in their ways and views, whereas others drink to forget their problems and so the pub takes on a different significance for them.
"Bitterness, stoicism and nostalgia may not seem positive or uplifting, but it is felt that the micro-society support system constructed by pub regulars is uplifting as it is humanistic in a world where few people seem to value each other."
"Aesthetically, the messages are understated. This mirrors the approach taken by the drinkers in tackling their own worries. The work explores the fear of death and modernity, loneliness, depression, alcoholism, stoicism, masculinity and defeatism. This was difficult to portray in imagery, because of the intangibility of these feelings."
Fiona's work is one of almost 300 exhibits being shown at the 2012 DJCAD Degree Show from 19th-27th May.
Notes to editors:
Dundee Degree Show
19th -27 May 2012 (Preview May 18th)
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
University of Dundee
13 Perth Road
Dundee DD1 4HT
T 01382 388828.
E djcadexhibitions@dundee.ac.uk
www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow
Exhibition open:
Saturday, May 19th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 20th (10am-4pm)
Monday, May 21st (10am-8pm)
Tuesday, May 22nd (10am-8pm)
Wednesday, May 23rd (10am-8pm)
Thursday, May 24th (10am-8pm)
Friday, May 25th (10am-8pm)
Saturday, May 26th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 27th (10am-4pm)
Graduate work on display:
Animation
Art, Philosophy, Contemporary Practices
Digital Interaction Design
Fine Art
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interior Environmental Design
Jewellery & Metal Design
Product Design
Textile Design
Time Based Art & Digital Film
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
