Established, UK based artist working with a range of media including: photography, text, moving-image and sourced, online material.
Bio
Ames' interest in photography began when he undertook training to become an evidence photographer whilst serving as a combat soldier in the British Army in Northern Ireland. Documenting terrorist scenes-of-crime and chronicling his day-to-day experiences of 'the Troubles' proved to be the catalyst for developing his fascination with the medium.
Developing a wide-range of visual and image/text strategies, Ames offers alternative understandings of conflict and systems of control - as well as their broader implications - that seek to question established conventions or reveal uncomfortable truths.
Collectively, his early work draws heavily from his personal experience of his time in the military. Whilst much of this work can be viewed as autobiographical, Ames’ practice also encompass his wider research interests, particularly contemporary representations of conflict and the military.
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). His attentions have also focussed on the commodification of contemporary conflict by both civilian communities and military institutions.
Later works have seem him return to the home-front in other ways; in response to Brexit, the disturbing rise of nationalist ideologies and the caustic language of division. Responding to an expanding range of interconnected themes (including bias in AI data-sets and scrutinising the integrity of those who wield and shape political power), are also areas that are becoming increasingly relevant within Ames' practice.
Exhibitions
‘13 Rembrandts’
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)
‘Left Right Left’
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 2019. All rights reserved.
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...
'Badges of Dishonour'
Limited edition artist's book
(Published in mid 2020)
'The Tour' (working title)
Unbound, limited edition artist's folio
(Published in mid 2020)