MOAT

PHOTOGRAPHY

Aug 31

When photographer Oliver Charles received a collection of his grandfather’s personal archive, he began to see his family in a new and different way. Fascinated by what he found, he started to explore the relationship of people, places and objects and what ‘family’ means to him.

Photography Oliver Charles

'MOAT' looks at the relationships between people, place and objects. Starting from my Grandad giving me a collection of his own personal archive, I became fascinated with the slides and prints that I found. I was seeing my family as I'd never seen them before. It reminded me of being a child and discovering family photo albums for the first time. I reflected on my own relationships with the people in the photographs, which was mainly my Grandad and Mum.

Through different time periods, we have all grown up in the same house. This makes it a formative place for us all, with each of us having different relationships and experiences. I wanted to find ways in which I could construct depictions of memories and associations with people, place and objects. The idea of ‘constructing’ photographs became key to me, my Grandad would build so many physical things and this is my attempt to respond to that. I find myself present in this project with my own personal projections being casted onto the photographs I make.

“The idea of ‘constructing’ photographs became key to me, my Grandad would build so many physical things and this is my attempt to respond to that.”

“My Grandfather would touch the back of the television, if it was warm in meant it was time to go outside.”

“I was seeing my family as I'd never seen them before. It reminded me of being a child and discovering family photo albums for the first time.”

About Oliver

Oliver Charles has recently completed a BA(Hons) Photography at The University of the West of England. His work explores themes of identity, family and personal narratives. Oliver plans Ito make a small run of books to go alongside the project.

To see more of his work, visit his website or follow him on Instagram

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MOAT

When photographer Oliver Charles received a collection of his grandfather’s personal archive, he began to see his family in a new and different way. Fascinated by what he found, he started to explore the relationship of people, places and objects and what ‘family’ means to him.

“The idea of ‘constructing’ photographs became key to me, my Grandad would build so many physical things and this is my attempt to respond to that.”

“My Grandfather would touch the back of the television, if it was warm in meant it was time to go outside.”

“I was seeing my family as I'd never seen them before. It reminded me of being a child and discovering family photo albums for the first time.”

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