Disconnected

Disconnected brings together the photographic work of Mike Tudor and Paula Tollett. Mike’s work ‘Oneiric’ uses the urban landscape to explore our sense of overwhelm and withdrawal, continuing themes of work made over repeated journeys on foot. Paula’s work ‘Before We Vanish’ takes themes of grief and acceptance, processing them through night walks alone, capturing flora and foliage. Exhibiting together, oppressive monoliths of the urban landscape are put starkly against the more delicate and fragile natural world.

Their photographic work comes together as a series of photographic images pasted up on an exterior wall at Gallery Lock-In Brighton. Both working in black and white photography, their work is installed as 125gsm blue back paper. With Mike’s work shot on digital and printed at large scale, and Paula’s work shot and scanned from 35mm film. Mike’s work explores themes of overwhelm and isolation, Paula’s work explores themes of grief, acceptance and unpredictability.

Mike’s series builds on previous projects made through repeated journeys on foot through the city. Deliberately exaggerating the oppressive nature of city architecture and brings attention to unorthodox geometry and shape. With layering, light and shadow evoking feelings of disconnection and anhedonia.

Paula’s project ‘Before We Vanish’ is explored through walking alone at night. The work is realised through the oppressive flash of the camera contrasted against delicate flowers and foliage, bringing together elements of unpredictability along with the acceptance of letting go.

Mike and Paula’s work explores the theme of feedback through processing our perception of both the urban and natural world. With Oneiric, the overload of stimuli and desire to withdraw interrupts our usual feedback loops. With Paula’s work linking to this theme of internal feedback loop of grief and acceptance whirling around inside us.