Social History / Stephen McCoy
Wide-ranging Stephen McCoy retrospective exhibition comes to Martin Parr Foundation
For nearly half a century, British photographer Stephen McCoy has been making images of the people and places of Merseyside.
His style is often characteristic for its emphasis on domesticity and family life, although local landscapes – particularly where they are in flux – are also a recurring interest for McCoy.
A wide-ranging retrospective exhibition, first shown in Liverpool in the autumn of 2024, is now coming to Martin Parr Foundation, where it will reside until the end of the year.
is needed now More than ever
From ‘Skelmersdale’
From ‘River to River’
Proximity encompasses selected images from a number of McCoy’s projects made on Merseyside from the late 1970s onwards.
From housing estates in Ainsdale, to residents of Skelmersdale; demolition sites around Liverpool to more intimate domestic spaces, homes and gardens, McCoy’s images capture a warmth towards his local communities and landscapes and some of the issues they face in a time of economic and social transition.
From ‘Housing Estates’
Fom ‘The Rimrose Valley Sites’
There are photographs from series including Skelmersdale, Demolition Sites, Housing Estates, River to River, The Rimrose Valley Sites, Every House My Mother Lived In, and Archaeology of a Carpet.
“Over the years I’ve learnt that some of the best work – poignant and powerful – is made on the photographer’s own doorstep”, remarks Martin Parr, drawing on his personal history with McCoy and his work.
From ‘Every House My Mother Lived In’
From ‘Demolition Sites’
“Our paths crossed briefly in 1978 when I was teaching at Manchester Polytechnic and he was a student, a couple of years later I saw his Housing Estates work at Impressions Gallery and he came to visit me 1983 and 1986 when I lived in New Brighton.
“He’s been working quietly and tirelessly for decades yet his work has been overlooked, so it’s a great pleasure to be able to display it at the Foundation.”
From ‘Archaeology of a Carpet’
From ‘Skelmersdale’
Proximity by Stephen McCoy is at Martin Parr Foundation on October 2-December 21, with an exhibition launch party on October 10 and an artist talk from McCoy on November 3. For more information visit www.martinparrfoundation.org.
All photos: © Stephen McCoy (main photo: From the series ‘Personal Space’)
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