Colin Robins & Oliver Udy Artist Talk + performance

15 Jun 2024 2-5pm

Overview

Opening Saturday 15 June 2pm - 5pm
3pm - Artist Talk 
4pm - Red River Singers performing farming-related Cornish songs

Colin Robins and Oliver Udy are British documentary photographers based in Cornwall. For over ten years they have been collaborating on the Anthology of Rural Life. Their shared interest in a quiet documentary practice has evolved over time, shedding light on the shifting nature of life in diverse European rural communities. So far, their work has taken them to Finland, Italy, Poland, Hungary, Turkey as well as the UK.

This summer show at Kestle Barton will include images made in locations across Europe alongside recent work focusing on farming life on the Lizard Peninsula. The exhibition aims to develop a narrative around change and complexity in rural life while providing a recognition of the central place that farming continues to play in the social and economic landscape of the Lizard.

This has been an opportunity to establish an archive that will ultimately be housed at Kresen Kernow. Over twenty new portraits of families and individuals involved in farming have been made for this show. Featured above, one of these families, the Amiss family of Tregullas Farm in the Lizard village, keep a herd of beef suckler cows and grass-fed sheep and run a farm shop along with a café. The family have been in the Lizard for a number of years having farmed in other locations around the UK.

The opening event on Saturday 15 June from 2pm - 5pm is free and all are welcome! It will include Colin Robins & Oliver Udy talking about the exhibition; and the Red River Singers performing Cornish farming songs from the choir's new book Bledhen an Tir: Farming songs and stories. The book includes song words, arrangements and free audio download of tracks and will be available for sale at Kestle Barton, along with the 2023 publication of Brindley Hosken's book Up Long Meadow.

In connection with this exhibition, a 'Tent Talks' series is scheduled on the weekend of 20 & 21 July with a focus on food systems, land use and creative practices (see below). Please visit our website for more information.