Established, UK based artist/photographer, primarily concerned with contested spaces and/or the language of division. Working with a range of media including: photography, text, moving-image and sourced, online material.
Bio
Ames' interest in photography began when he trained to become an evidence photographer whilst serving as a combat soldier in the British Army. Documenting terrorist scenes-of-crime and chronicling his day-to-day experiences of 'the Troubles' whilst on a tour-of-duty in Northern Ireland, proved to be the catalyst for developing his fascination with the medium.
Collectively, his early work draws heavily from his personal experience of his time in the military. However, Ames’ practice also encompasses his wider research interests, particularly in relation to contested spaces (both physical and digital).
Working in collaboration with British Armed Forces veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan (alongside veterans' organisations and charities, such as the Royal British Legion), he has also explored the 'unseen' consequences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in an attempt to raise awareness of this complex and often misunderstood condition. His attentions have also focussed on the implications inherent within simulated theatres of conflict and the commodification of contemporary warfare by both civilian communities and military institutions.
In recent years, has practice has gravitated around contested spaces on the 'home-front', both in the UK and abroad, where we have witnessed a disturbing rise in nationalist and far-right ideologies. In this vein, recent works have also explored the caustic language and iconography of division and hatred that permeates contemporary culture.
Exhibitions
'Official Portraits for a Post-Truth Era'
Shutter Hub Open
London (2021)
'13 Rembrandts' (an experimental, augmented reality exhibition)
The Wrong Biennale: Sunderland Pavilion
Sunderland (2019 - 2020)
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (Collections Space)
National Glass Centre
Sunderland (2019)
NewBridge Gallery
Newcastle-upon-Tyne (2016)
'Gimme Shelter: Forts & Fictions in the Lowlands'
Kunstfort Asperen & Kuntsfort bij VijFhuizen,
The Netherlands (2015)
Derby (2015)
‘Frames: Projecting International Photography’.
Glasgow (2014)
'You are the Company in Which You Keep'
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
Sunderland (2013)
'Northern Ireland: 30 Years of Photography'
Belfast Exposed and the MAC
Belfast (2013)
'Nothing in the World But Youth'
Turner Contemporary
Margate (2011 - 2012)
Bradford International Photography Festival
Bradford (2011)
’Inkubator II: Bunker’
DLI Museum and Art Gallery
Durham (2009)
‘Tour Photographs’ (Featured in ‘War Memorial’ by Julian Germain)
Brighton Photo Biennial. Aspex Gallery
Portsmouth (2008)
Hug Gallery for International Photography
Amsterdam (2006)
‘Made in Britain: Contemporary British Photography’
Huis Marseille and FOAM Institute
Amsterdam (2005)
‘Visions and Anxieties’
Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art (Project Space)
Sunderland (2004)
‘Left Right Left’ & ‘Tour Photographs’
Baltic: Centre for Contemporary Art
Gateshead (2004)
'Year One: A Snapshot of Britain' (Curated by Martin Parr)
The Photographers' Gallery
London (2001)
Publications
'Frontlines'
Self-Published Newspaper - Artist's Edition of 50 (2016)
'Format 15: Evidence’
Published by Quad/Format (2015)
'de Marseillaise: Fifteen Years of Collecting’
Published by Huis Marseille (2014)
‘Northern Ireland: 30 Years of Photography'
Published by Belfast Exposed and the MAC (2013)
'Evidence: Ways of Looking’
Published by Impressions Gallery (2011)
'Nothing in the World But Youth
Published by Turner Contemporary Press (2011)
'Demobbed'
Self-Published - Artist's Edition of 50 (2009)
‘Made in Britain: Contemporary British Photography’
Published by Huis Marseille & FOAM Institute (2005)
'Left Right Left’
Published by PhotoNorth (2003)
Collections
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Belfast Exposed, Belfast
Huis Marseille: Museum of Photography, Amsterdam
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland
© Craig Ames 2020. All rights reserved.
With thanks to the many organisations and institutions that have supported me over the years, including:
Arts Council England
North East Photography Network
Victoria & Albert Museum
University of Sunderland
Northern Centre of Photography
Belfast Exposed
Format Photography Festival
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
Turner Contemporary
The Photographers' Gallery
Huis Marseille: Museum of Photography
Baltic: Centre for Contemporary Art
Bradford Photography Festival
Shutter Hub
NewBridge Project
British Army
Royal British Legion
research is currently underway which is centred around artificial intelligence, machine learning and machine vision, as well as virtual and augmented realities and simulations.
Contact
In Development:
'Variations on a Theme of England'
(New photographic landscape project in the early stages of development. More info and images to follow...)