The Land and the Sea: Alastair Cook 30th July until 14th August 2010
Alastair Cook's film and photographic work is guided by his knowledge, skill and experience as a conservation architect. His work is rooted in place and the intrinsic connections between people, land and heritage. This exhibition, his first major solo-show in Edinburgh, draws on several powerful photographic series from throughout his career that reflect these influences.
The Land and the Sea is an exhibition of black and white 35mm film photographs documenting Alastair’s photographic and artistic response to the people, heritage and lands of our eastern seaboard. It draws together work from his solo show Sutherland | Caithness, exhibited at Timespan in Helmsdale earlier this year, alongside new work detailing the hinterland between land and sea, along the east coast from Edinburgh to The Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
Creative Boom Edinburgh spoke to Alastair earlier this year and gained an insight into his working practice:
'My work is centred on the immediate; I try to reflect what I see, what I feel, through this lens. I try to avoid image manipulation, letting the film or 35mm negative be raw and honest. This often makes for dark and derelict imagery, but often tinged with positivity, with a move forward.'
Giles Sutherland, in his review of Sutherland | Caithness for Hi-Arts Magazine states:
'Alastair Cook's black and white photographic images of Caithness and Sutherland – shot on 35mm film and hand-printed – repay close attention…[they are] carefully composed and conceived studies which use the camera's framing eye to convey rich metaphor and a sense of quiet, spiritual wonderment.'
As well as still imagery, Alastair works extensively with film media and moving image. His recent projects include MALIN III, a 35 minute film with a score composed in collaboration with cellist Luca Nasciuti. It was premiered live at the Roxy Art House in June and is being screened with live cello accompaniment throughout Europe this summer.
Working in collaboration with established poets, Alastair also produces short films of their work, regularly publishing his new films on his website, www.alastaircook.com.
The exhibition will run from 30th July until 14th August 2010 at Out of the Blue Drill Hall
Out of the Blue Drill Hall 36 Dalmeny Street Edinburgh EH6 8RG
0131 555 7100
