Helen Cammock: Concrete Feathers and Porcelain Tacks

Interesting video and installation at the Photographers’ Gallery by Helen Cammock.

Cammock worked with the people of Rochdale to explore ideas of community and the principles of the Cooperative Movement which were laid down in 1844. She used the collection at the Touchstones Museum in the city to talk people about these ideas and recorded them in a video in which she also showed the people around the city with he objects.

As often the case with a video it was too long. I liked its slow pace but just didn’t have the time to watch the whole thing which I think from memory came in at well over an hour. Alongside the video the objects the people had chosen to talk about from the museum were shown in the adjoining room with stills from the video. Sadly I was more taken by this eclectic mix of objects than the video and loved this picture by Tristram Hillier from 1865.

Closes 13 February 2022

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