…And perhaps even turned to denim.
Ian Berry has been making isolation images in denim for years. Blue, 2012
Ian Berry may have captured the world’s press imagination for years with his medium, denim, but of course the other consistent theme in his work has been isolation. And now he is wanting to see your isolation shots Behind your Closed Doors that could show in a museum.
The months prior to lockdown Ian had been planning photoshoots in some well known people’s homes, as his work is based on photos. The week of shoots was the first week of lockdown. Not ideal with two years of museum shows upcoming.
Compared to what is going on, he knows it’s not the worst thing but he did have a problem to find a solution for.
Ian became a professional artist after losing his job as an Art Director in the last financial crisis. The museum shows were going to look over this period of work (loaned back from clients) and he was complimenting it with new work that continued these themes.
Now we all find ourselves in isolation.
Some of Ians work on isolation in Behind Closed Doors.
Speaking with friends he soon realised many were photographers stuck, but safe, in their own homes. They volunteered to take photos, many were sent but Ian’s work is time consuming, he couldn’t do them all. He had also realised he was isolated in his own home and studio, with a camera.
‘It’s at times like this you realise what is in front of you and what you have. I had been planning on going to other peoples homes as well as returning to LA to shoot, ignoring what was in front of my eyes.’ Ian Berry
Your isolation images to show in Museum Rijswijk Holland
With seeing many great photos and knowing many photographers had lost work, like him, during this period he spoke with the Museum’s Curator Diana Wind where he will have a solo show later in the year and they decided they should show some at the Museum by The Hague in The Netherlands. Ian will then have further shows in Germany, Sweden and Yorkshire UK with more to announce.
‘Photographers and the public should be, and will be, documenting this period and their experience of this, so we invite them to submit their photographs during this period that will be chosen by the curator of the Museum Rijswijk Diana Wind and myself, and then displayed alongside my show but in a dedicated gallery.’
The work need not be as melancholic as Ian’s scenes, nor isolation alone, it can be a family playing a game, a couple both working from home or many on a zoom meeting, it is your experience. If Ian does see one that he can see in denim, he will have that conversation but the main purpose is to see your photographs and display them like that.
Submissions should be sent to mail@ianberry.art titled Stay Behind Closed Doors
You can find out more about submissions here and also follow the instagram page
You can see some of the early submissions above and also here.
Ian Berry in Isolation
Ian Berry is isolating in his East London studio beside the Limehouse Cut Canal and with his 2 to 3,000 pairs of jeans. Prior to lockdown Kasper Daugaard visited and filmed a VR in Ian’s studio and you can have a look at Ian’s studio where he is now working away.
And just days before the lockdown Debbie Bragg shot in Ian Berry’s studio and workplace.
