John Bulmer, notable for his use of colour in photojournalism, once noted that the last thing he wanted was for his photograps to be on the walls of galleries. It seems ironic, then, that his ‘The North’ collection finds itself at the White Cloth Gallery, somewhat sidelined.
His photographs are, in themselves, visually stunning. The collection, comprised of photos dating from 1976, beautifully depicts the isolated, adversarial, geo-political climate of the time. The grain of the film lends a number of the photographs an almost painting-like quality, imbuing each subject with an air of poignancy and dignity – not least in one particularly striking picture of a solitary figure crossing a dilapidated footbridge.
The ‘Wind of Change’ collection – to be published this month by The Bluecoat Press – sees Bulmer turn his lens to wider, global subject matter. Again, Bulmer’s ability to capture the humanity and dignity of his subjects shines through. The placing of a candid shot of a young, smiling Queen Elizabeth II next to a portrait of two elderly Eastern European women felt neither expositional nor confrontational, merely highlighting the indiscriminate, yet reverent, eye that Bulmer casts over his subjects.
However, the exhibition seemed marred by the space it was contained in. Of course, running a gallery is ultimately a business venture, and thus certain artistic concessions may have to be made in view of ensuring shows like this may continue to run. Yet Bulmer’s photos felt, in many ways, marginalized, almost an afterthought in a gallery that felt more like a meeting place. It’s hard, for instance, to fully appreciate the gravity of Bulmer’s stunning depictions of the Ethiopian landscape when half of the gallery space is taken up by coffee tables. It resulted in a situation where the oft-gritty realism of Bulmer’s shots was almost mocked by the stark, unyielding environ in which they were placed.
Ultimately, Bulmer’s photographs are viscerally beautiful, capturing the human essence of each subject depicted; it thus seems a shame for such powerful pictures to be relegated from the primary focus they deserve.
The North & Wind of Change is showing at the White Cloth Gallery until 12th November
Joshua Rickayzen
Image: johnbulmer.co.uk