The photographer staring death in the face
- Text by Saoirse O'Leary
- Photography by Ben Gore
A cat in a bathtub. A creepy flea market. A dad sunbathing on the beach. Goodbye, Blue Monday is the follow-up to photographer Ben Gore’s celebrated photoboook Second Adolescence.
Citing Jim Goldberg and Larry Clark as major influences, Ben has used photography to re-examine how he looks at the world around him. With themes of maturity and mortality, he uses a familiar lens to face our greatest fears: growing up and growing old.
“[Going freelance] made me hyperaware of the passing of time,” Ben says. “I’m now fully in control of how I spend my time, but I’m also fully responsible for the good or bad I do with it. It’s only on me. The preoccupation with death in the book comes from that ethos. Death is the final full stop on your time and I’ve got a drive to make the most of my time while I’m here.”
Goodbye, Blue Monday will be shown from 21-24 July at the Doomed Gallery Dalston, and is available to preorder now.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
The art of paying attention: How Austria’s Alps reward slowing down
Lebensgefühl — With a growing movement of art and music rooted in the area’s mountains, trees and waterfalls, the region is showcasing the importance of the human relationship to nature.
Written by: Sophie Lou Wilson
Grainy, yearning memories of Europe’s ’90s free rave heyday
Never Alone — A new photobook from Cheyenne Clementi and Valentina Morandi presents pictures they made over seven years while touring the continent as part of the Tekno Mobil Squad soundsystem crew. It archives parties, people and a lifestyle largely consigned to the past.
Written by: Isaac Muk
Queer resistance & sun-soaked solidarity at the world’s largest trans pride march
Our Future, Our Fight — Over the weekend, over 150,000 people marched at the London Trans+ Pride, with the parade ending at Trafalgar Square for the first time in history.
Written by: Ella Glossop
In photos: Black Texas life since emancipation
Kinship & Community — A new photobook and exhibition showcases the rich culture, history and community of African American folks in the Lone Star State, whose existence in the region predates colonial Britain.
Written by: Miss Rosen
American Football: The One With The Feelings
Many moons — The Midwest emo architects transformed a college experiment into a coming-of-age soundtrack. 25 years on, their latest iteration sees them bottle the same magic for the ups and downs of middle life.
Written by: Tracy Kawalik
Youthful joy & end-of-era poignancy at a London school prom
Leavers — For several years, Lewis Khan documented young people as they celebrated the last of their school days and the completion of their exams. The series is now collated in a new self-published photobook and short film.
Written by: Zoe Whitfield
