exhibition

Seeing is Believing

23.Nov.07 - 27.Jan.08
Mon-Sat 11-6, Thu 11-8, Sun 12-6

The Photographers' Gallery
5 & 8 Gt Newport St
London WC2H 7HY
020 7831 1772
info@photonet.org.uk
www.photonet.org.uk
Tube Leicester Square, Bloomsbury / Soho

Seeing is Believing explores photography's strong relationship to the non-rational, the unknown and the ethereal. It brings together vintage photographs from the archive of the Harry Price Library of Magical Literature, with work by seven international artists who share a fascination for the unexplained.

Known as Britain's most famous ghost investigator, Harry Price (b. 1881, London) set up the National Laboratory of Psychical Research in 1925. This exhibition includes documentation of the Borley Rectory Haunting, the Crawley Poltergeist and various spiritual mediums.

The contemporary photographers in Seeing is Believing explore the alchemical properties of photography and its ability to suggest unusual phenomena.

Clare Strand (b.1973, UK) creates black & white 'aura' portraits of young women, Tim Maul (b.1951, USA) documents areas of New York which indicate a 'spirit' presence, Susan MacWilliam (b.1969, IRL) works closely within areas of psychic research, and Ben Judd's (b.1970, UK) stereoscopic works examine susceptibility and delusion.

The visionary power of the photograph influences Roger Ballen (b.1950, USA) who combines automatic drawing and performance to create savage, surreal tableaux. Florencia Durante (b.1976, Spain) records the power and energy of light and Fred Ressler (b.1941, USA) captures ghost-like faces and figures emerging from shadows.