Oliver Whitehead 7.-29.10.2006

Curriculum Vitae (.pdf)

Detour

'Consumerism is the greatest device anyone has invented for controlling people. New fantasies, new dreams and dislikes, new souls to heal. '

(J.G.Ballard: Kingdom Come )

Tourism that began as a way of organizing vacations has almost become a right of passage to any part on the world that can create almost any kind of holiday you desire. Viewed from the 'home', through the ubiquitous media, we are constantly prompted about the exits to leisure, escapism and adventure via; the internet, news, television, film, brochures, shopping, magazines, adverts etc. A vacation usually begins with viewing seductive self-promoting advertising images that will be with us as we are guided through the holiday.

' Detour ' looks at the contrasts surrounding of the tourist look that is loaded with images and messages that influence us without us being able to affect their source. But nevertheless, in response to these images, we construe for ourselves holidays in which we hope to experience.

In the tourist media-scape we holiday among the purpose built leisure resorts that provide facilities with their conveniently placed souvenir shops filled with, kitsch, clichÈs and the 'theatrical' mementoes that entice us to endorse our visit.

In making this exhibition, I moved through various kinds of 'leisure-scapes', real and imagined using digital imaging to create the works that resulted a dual photographic exhibition of visited resorts and imagined experiences. One part consists of documentary photographs taken in and around holiday resorts, whilst the other are digital collage images constructed from various sources of tourist related images.

Oliver Whitehead

 

Mermaid, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
120 x 167 cm

Seachange, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
90 x 135 cm

 

Loveletter, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
90 x 135 cm

 

Fishhotel, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
130 x 134 cm

Palmpool, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
120 x 180 cm

Parrot, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
120 x 163 cm

Sunburnt, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
120 x 176 cm

Beachcraze, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
120 x 130 cm

Balcony, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
120 x 202 cm

Post-card, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
90 x 135 cm

Pineapple, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
90 x 90 cm

Pillowstalk, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
90 x 156 cm

Boatpool, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
90 x 123 cm

Flipside, 2006
from series SOUVENIR
120 x 183 cm

Waitingroom, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Waiting, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Airportbench, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Beachtoys, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Walkway, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Poolday, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x60 cm

Poolnight, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Nighterrace, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Cloudspool, 2006
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Playground, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Tracksand, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Sunheads, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

Pool, 2005
from series TRAVEL
60 x 60 cm

SOUVENIR and TRAVEL-series:
lambda-print on aluminium
edition: 6 + 2 AP

Enlarge by clicking the image. Press images are available at the gallery.